For people who always ask, "What are your favorite albums?" here's the answer. I start with my top pick from each year as a starting point. No, it's not "the most important albums" period, just the album that meant the most to me from each year; usually that means the album I play the most. Some years the choice was obvious, other times a few battled it out. But you could do worse as a music buff than making sure you listen to all my #1 picks. I follow this list with a breakdown of my favorite albums year by year.
THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME (MY #1 PICK EACH YEAR 1924 TO THE PRESENT)
THE 2020s
TK (2023 work-in-progress)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Boy Named If /The Resurrection of Rust
FLOATING POINTS AND PHAROAH SANDERS -- Promises (2021)
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- Been Around (2020)
THE 2010s
iLe -- Almadura (2019)
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Girl From Chickasaw County: The Complete Capitol Masters (2018)
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers (2017)
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar and Lazarus ep (2016 -- tie)
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker (2016 -- tie)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell (2015)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War (2014)
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady (2013)
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (2012)
FLEET FOXES -- Hopelessness Blues (2011)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt (2010)
THE 2000s
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (2009)
WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues (2008)
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (2007)
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot (2004)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant (2003)
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me (2002)
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza (2001)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
THE 1990s
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder (1999)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue (1998)
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer (1997)
BECK -- Odelay (1996)
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions (1995 -- tie)
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection (1995 -- tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings (1994)
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn (1993)
kd lang -- Ingenue (1992)
NIRVANA -- Nevermind (1991)
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection (1990)
THE 1980s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique (1989)
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio (1987)
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland (1986 -- tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One (1986 -- tie)
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album (1985 -- tie)
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (1985 -- tie)
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
R.E.M. -- Murmur (1983)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska (1982)
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits (1981)
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy (1980)
THE 1970s
THE CLASH -- London Calling (1979)
WILLIE NELSON -- Stardust (1978)
STEELY DAN -- Aja (1977)
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes (1975)
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin' (1973)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits (1972)
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue (1971)
RANDY NEWMAN -- 12 Songs (1970 -- tie)
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman (1970 -- tie)
THE 1960s
THE BEATLES -- Abbey Road (1969)
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks (1968)
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (1966 -- tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (1966 -- tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Bringing It All Back Home/Highway 61 (1965)
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto (1964)
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story (1963)
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2 (1962)
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby (1961)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (1960)
THE 1950s
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess (1959)
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1 (1958)
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast (1957)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams (1954)
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (1953)
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music (1952)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1951)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950) (1950)
THE 1940s
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49 (1949)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1948)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days aka For Mother And Child (1947)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951) (1946)
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (1945)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma! (1944)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (1943)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor (1942)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band (1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label (1940)
THE 1930s
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller (1939)
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall (1938)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (1937)
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1 (1936)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954] (1935)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954] (1934)
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection (1933)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- The 1930's Recordings (1932)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934] (1931)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label (1930)
THE 1920s
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934) (1929)
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (1928)
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1927)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1926)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1925)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label (1924)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2023 (work-in-progress)
TK -- TK
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2021
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2019
iLe -- Almadura
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nostalgique Porto Rico (Puerto Rican Roots 1940-1960)
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE (out Dec 2018)
BAD BUNNY AND J BALVIN -- Oasis
LIZZO -- Cuz I Love You
ARI LENNOX -- Shea Butter Baby
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
SOLANGE -- When I Get Home
NICK CAVE -- Ghosteen
ANDY BURROWS AND MATT HAIG -- Reasons To Stay Alive
DORI FREEMAN -- Every Little Star
TINARIWEN -- Amadjar
MDOU MOCTAR -- Ileana (The Creator)
WEYES BLOOD -- Titanic Rising
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Desert
ANDREW NORMAN -- Sustain
TANYA TUCKER -- While I'm Living
JUDY COLLINS -- Winter Stories (w Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line)
MANSION HARLOTS -- All Around A Fairground
TYLER, THE CREATOR -- IGOR
CAROLINE SHAW -- Orange
DEREK BERMEL -- Migrations
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Sound & Fury
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS -- De Ayer Para Siempre
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- I Love You. It's A Fever Dream
BILLIE EILISH -- When We All Fall Asleep
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Father Of The Bride
LAKOU MIZIK -- HaitiNola
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH -- Ancestral Blues
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Celia
NEIL YOUNG -- Colorado
FRANK TURNER -- No Man's Land
STILE ANTICO -- In A Strange Land: Elizabethan Composers in Exile
BECK -- Hyperspace
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Kiwanuka
ALLISON MOORER -- Blood
DAVE MALLOY --- Octet (Original Cast Recording)
THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Aban
WILCO -- Ode To Joy
JOE JACKSON -- Fool
JEFF LYNNE'S ELO -- From Out Of Nowhere
PAUL KELLY -- Songs From The South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits 1985-2019
JULIA JACKLIN -- Crushing
KEVIN MORBY -- Oh My God
LOS LOBOS -- Llegó Navidad
STILE ANTICO -- A Spanish Nativity
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- The Christmas Present
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2018
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Girl From Chickaswaw County boxed set
JANELLE MONÁE -- Dirty Computer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Heaven And Earth
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Remain In Light
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Pray For The Wicked
BRANDI CARLISLE -- By The Way, I Forgive You
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Nothing Doing
NELLIE MCKAY -- Sister Orchid
BETA RADIO -- Transition
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2017
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers
CHRIS STAPLETON -- From A Room, Vol. 1
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng
SZA -- Ctrl
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hadestown Original Cast Album (Off Bway)
JOHN MORELAND -- Big Bad Luv
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 50 Song Memoir
SIA -- Everyday is Christmas
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- A New Set Of Downs
COURTNEY BARNETT AND KURT VILE -- Lotta Sea Lice
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Dragonfly
BOB DYLAN -- Triplicate
DANIEL CAESAR -- Freudian
JASON ISBELL -- The Nashville Sound
MARGO PRICE -- All American Made
KENDRICK LAMAR -- Damn
KRONOS QUARTET AND TRIO DA KALI -- Ladilikan
STANTON MOORE -- With You In Mind
AIMEE MANN -- Mental Illness
JAKE XERXES FUSSELL -- What In The Natural World
LORDE -- Melodrama
DON BRYANT -- Don't Give Up On Love
ROBERT CRAY AND HI RHYTHM -- Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm
CURTIS HARDING -- Face Your Fears
CHARLY BLISS -- Guppy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in The Park With George (Bway 2017)
THE NATIONAL -- Sleep Well Beast
MOSES SUMNEY -- Aromanticism
SAMPHA -- Process
WESLEY STACE'S JOHN WESLEY HARDING -- Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding
DORA FREEMAN -- Letter Never Sent
ANNA TIVEL -- Small Believer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Harmony of Difference
CHEAP TRICK -- We're All Alright!
SAZ'SIO -- At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me
RON SEXSMITH -- The Last Rider
INDIA.ARIE -- Songversation: Medicine
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Contraband Love
KHALID -- American Teen
ZULI -- On Human Freakout Mountain
LEWIS CAPALDI -- Bloom
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Southern Soul Crate
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Baby Driver OST
RODNEY CROWELL -- Close Ties
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Sad Clowns and Hillbillies
OZUNA -- Odisea
LIAM GALLAGHER -- As You Were
DAVID RAWLINGS -- Poor David's Almanack
JUANES -- Mis Planes Son Amarte
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Come All Ye -- The First Ten Years (1968-1978)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs Of Peace and Love
HOBO JOHNSON -- The Rise Of Hobo Johnson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar + Lazarus EP
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker
MAXWELL -- blackSUMMERnights
CHANCE THE RAPPER -- Coloring Book
JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU -- Nearness
EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT -- Trio: The Complete Collection
TEDDY THOMPSON AND KELLY JONES -- Little Windows
SOLANGE -- A Seat At The Table
JAMES HUNTER -- Hold On!
STURGILL SIMPSON -- A Sailor's Guide To Earth
KANYE WEST -- The Life Of Pablo
THE MONKEES -- Good Times!
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Remember Us To Life
KENNY BARRON -- Book Of Intuition
RADIOHEAD -- A Moon Shaped Pool
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- The Weight Of These Wings
GREEN DAY -- Revolution Radio
BOB DYLAN -- Fallen Angels
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Death Of A Bachelor
MAHALIA JACKSON -- Moving On Up A Little Higher
DORI FREEMAN -- Dori Freeman
MARGO PRICE -- Midwest Farmer's Daughter
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- We've Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
PET SHOP BOYS -- Super
MUDCRUTCH -- Mudcrutch 2
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell (2015)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War (2014)
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady (2013)
RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (2012)
FLEET FOXES -- Hopelessness Blues (2011)
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt (2010)
THE 2000s
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (2009)
WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues (2008)
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (2007)
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (2006 -- tie)
JAMES HUNTER -- People Gonna Talk (2006 -- tie)
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Illinois (2005)GREEN DAY -- American Idiot (2004)
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant (2003)
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me (2002)
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza (2001)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP (2000)
THE 1990s
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder (1999)
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue (1998)
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer (1997)
BECK -- Odelay (1996)
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions (1995 -- tie)
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection (1995 -- tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings (1994)
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn (1993)
kd lang -- Ingenue (1992)
NIRVANA -- Nevermind (1991)
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection (1990)
THE 1980s
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique (1989)
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back (1988)
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio (1987)
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland (1986 -- tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One (1986 -- tie)
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album (1985 -- tie)
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (1985 -- tie)
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
R.E.M. -- Murmur (1983)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska (1982)
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits (1981)
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy (1980)
THE 1970s
THE CLASH -- London Calling (1979)
WILLIE NELSON -- Stardust (1978)
STEELY DAN -- Aja (1977)
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes (1975)
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin' (1973)
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits (1972)
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue (1971)
RANDY NEWMAN -- 12 Songs (1970 -- tie)
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman (1970 -- tie)
THE 1960s
THE BEATLES -- Abbey Road (1969)
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks (1968)
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (1967)
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (1966 -- tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (1966 -- tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Bringing It All Back Home/Highway 61 (1965)
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto (1964)
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story (1963)
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2 (1962)
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby (1961)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (1960)
THE 1950s
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess (1959)
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1 (1958)
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast (1957)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook (1956)
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams (1954)
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (1953)
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music (1952)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1951)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950) (1950)
THE 1940s
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49 (1949)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits (1948)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days aka For Mother And Child (1947)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951) (1946)
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (1945)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma! (1944)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943 (1943)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor (1942)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band (1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label (1940)
THE 1930s
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller (1939)
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall (1938)
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (1937)
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1 (1936)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954] (1935)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954] (1934)
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection (1933)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- The 1930's Recordings (1932)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934] (1931)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label (1930)
THE 1920s
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934) (1929)
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings (1928)
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1927)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1926)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings (1925)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label (1924)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2023 (work-in-progress)
TK -- TK
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2022
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Boy Named If /The Resurrection of Rust
HARRY STYLES -- Harry's House ESLABÓN ARMADO -- Nostalgia
BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
ROLLING STONES -- Live At The El Mocambo
iLe -- Nacarile
ALTAMEDA -- Born Losers
TOMMY MCLAIN -- I Ran Down Every Dream
CHARLIE GABRIEL AND THE PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- 89
WET LEG -- Wet Leg
BUZZARD BUZZARD BUZZARD -- Backhand Deals
TCHOTCHKE -- Tchotchke
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Ghost Song
WEYES BLOOD -- And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow
BUCK OWENS -- Bakersfield Gold: Top 10 Hits 1959-1974
BAD BUNNY -- Un Verano Sin Ti
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Palomino
JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON -- Drone Mass
LADY BLACKBIRD -- Black Acid Soul
NOORI & HIS DORPA BAND -- Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass From Sudan's Red Sea Coast
THE LICKERISH QUARTET -- Threesome
SILVANA ESTRADA -- Marchita
DR. JOHN -- Things Happen That Way
JOEL ROSS -- The Parable Of The Poet
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Gotta Get A Good Thing Goin': Black Music In Britain In The Sixties
ASHLEY MCBRYDE -- Presents Lindeville
IAN NOE -- River Fools and Mountain Saints
JULIA BULLOCK -- Walking In The Dark
STEVE LACY -- Gemini Rights
JUDY COLLINS -- Spellbound
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Music From And Inspired By
COLIN HAY -- Now and The Evermore OUMOU SANGARÉ -- Timbuktu
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Claptrap
GOGOL BORDELLO -- Solidaritine
MADONNA -- Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones
VIGÜELA -- A La Manera Artesana
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Viva Las Vengeance
BINKER & MOSES -- Feeding The Machine
MEGHAN TRAINOR -- Takin' It Back
ALEC BENJAMIN -- (Un)Commentary
THE MOVERS -- Vol. 1: 1970-1976
MIDLAKE -- For The Sake Of Bethel Woods
RENÉE FLEMING -- Voice Of Nature: The Anthropocene
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2021
FLOATING POINTS AND PHAROAH SANDERS -- Promises
THE CORAL -- Coral Island
C. TANGANA -- El Madrileño
ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raise The Roof
BRANDI CARLILE -- In These Silent Days (In The Canyon Haze edition out 2022)
AIMEE MANN -- Queen Of The Summer Hotels
JOHN MAYER -- Sob Rock
ALLISON RUSSELL -- Outside Child
CHEAP TRICK -- In Another World
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Now Is Not A Good Time
JEREMIAH FRAITES -- Piano Piano
FLEET FOXES -- A Very Lonely Solstice
DORI FREEMAN -- Ten Thousand Roses
JUSTIN BIEBER -- Justice
MIRANDA LAMBERT, JACK INGRAM, JON RANDALL -- The Marfa Tapes
CARÍN LEON -- Inédito
BILLIE EILISH -- Happier Than Ever
IKE REILLY -- Because The Angels
ALICIA KEYS -- Keys
MICKY DOLENZ -- Dolenz Sings Nesmith
ASHE -- Ashlyn
EMILE MOSSERI -- Minari soundtrack
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Lindsey Buckingham
NATALIA LAFOURCADE -- Un Canto por México, Vol. II
LORD HURON -- Long Lost
SAULT -- Nine
CARLY PEARCE -- 29: Written In Stone
MON LAFERTE -- Seis
POKEY LAFARGE -- In The Blossom Of Their Shade
ST. VINCENT -- Daddy's Home
BOB DYLAN -- Shadow Kingdom
WILLIAM TYLER -- First Cow soundtrack
AROOJ AFTAB -- Vulture Prince
SELF ESTEEM -- Prioritize Pleasure
LUCY DACUS -- Home Video
NICK CAVE AND WARREN ELLIS -- Carnage
MANDY BARNETT -- Every Star Above
MARGO TIMMINS -- The Ty Tyrfu Sessions
RODRIGO AMARANTE -- Drama
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Things Take Time, Take Time
COLIN HAY -- I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself
THE FLATLANDERS -- Treasure of Love
ABBA -- Voyage
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- Been Around
BEASTIE BOYS -- Beastie Boys Music
FIONA APPLE -- Fetch The Bold Cutters
BAD BUNNY -- YHLQMDLG/Las Que No Iban A Salir/El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo
THE MAVERICKS -- En Español
LINA RODRIGUEZ -- Lina_Raul Refree
CHUCK PROPHET -- The Land That Time Forgot
MIKE VIOLA -- Godmuffin
RUMER -- Nashville Tears: The Songs Of Hugh Prestwood
IMMANUEL WILKINS -- Omega
TEYANA TAYLOR -- The Album
SAULT -- Untitled (Black Is) and Untitled (Rise)
CLARICE JENSEN -- The Experience Of Repetition As Death
OLAFUR ARNALDS -- Some Kind Of Peace
NEIL YOUNG -- Homegrown (recorded in 1975)
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live) (recorded in 1962)
BRANDY CLARK -- Your Life Is A Record
GREEN DAY -- Father of All Motherfuckers
DUA LIPA -- Future Nostalgia
SHARHABIL AHMED -- The King Of Sudanese Jazz
ONENESS OF JUJU -- African Rhythms 1970-1982
MARIA MCKEE -- La Vita Nuova
MOSES SUMNEY -- grae
PHOEBE BRIDGERS -- Punisher
HAIM -- Women In Music III
ROBERT CRAY -- That's What I Heard
ERROL LINTON -- No Entry
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Heartbreaker Please
TAMI NEILSON -- Chickaboom!
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs II
LIANNE LA HAVAS -- Lianne La Havas
HAROLD LOPEZ-NUSSA -- Te Lo Dije
THE STRUTS -- Strange Days
BOB DYLAN -- Rough and Rowdy Ways
HAROLD BUDD AND ROBIN GUTHRIE -- Another Flower
BRIAN ENO AND ROGER ENO -- Mixing Colours
FLEET FOXES -- Shore
GROUPE RTD -- The Dancing Devils Of Djibouti
BOB MOULD -- Blue Hearts
PHILIP GLASS -- Music In Eight Parts
TRISTAN PERICH -- Drift Multiply
STEVE EARLE -- Ghosts Of West Virginia
CARLA BLEY -- Life Goes On
JIMMY HEATH -- Love Letter
THE JAYHAWKS -- Xoxo
MICHAEL HARRISON W ROOMFUL OF TEETH -- Just Constellations
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Quickies
SPARKS -- A Steady Drip Drip Drip
JOHN BEASLEY -- MONK'estra Plays John Beasley
JAKE BLOUNT -- Spider Tales
TONY ALLEN AND HUGH MASEKALA -- Rejoice!
PAUL WELLER -- On Sunset
ALEC BENJAMIN -- These Two Windows
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Keeper
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2019
iLe -- Almadura
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nostalgique Porto Rico (Puerto Rican Roots 1940-1960)
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE (out Dec 2018)
BAD BUNNY AND J BALVIN -- Oasis
LIZZO -- Cuz I Love You
ARI LENNOX -- Shea Butter Baby
BRANFORD MARSALIS -- The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul
SOLANGE -- When I Get Home
NICK CAVE -- Ghosteen
ANDY BURROWS AND MATT HAIG -- Reasons To Stay Alive
DORI FREEMAN -- Every Little Star
TINARIWEN -- Amadjar
MDOU MOCTAR -- Ileana (The Creator)
WEYES BLOOD -- Titanic Rising
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Desert
ANDREW NORMAN -- Sustain
TANYA TUCKER -- While I'm Living
JUDY COLLINS -- Winter Stories (w Jonas Fjeld and Chatham County Line)
MANSION HARLOTS -- All Around A Fairground
TYLER, THE CREATOR -- IGOR
CAROLINE SHAW -- Orange
DEREK BERMEL -- Migrations
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Sound & Fury
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood
MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS -- De Ayer Para Siempre
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- I Love You. It's A Fever Dream
BILLIE EILISH -- When We All Fall Asleep
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Father Of The Bride
LAKOU MIZIK -- HaitiNola
CHRISTIAN SCOTT ATUNDE ADJUAH -- Ancestral Blues
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Celia
NEIL YOUNG -- Colorado
FRANK TURNER -- No Man's Land
STILE ANTICO -- In A Strange Land: Elizabethan Composers in Exile
BECK -- Hyperspace
MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Kiwanuka
ALLISON MOORER -- Blood
DAVE MALLOY --- Octet (Original Cast Recording)
THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Aban
WILCO -- Ode To Joy
JOE JACKSON -- Fool
JEFF LYNNE'S ELO -- From Out Of Nowhere
PAUL KELLY -- Songs From The South: Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits 1985-2019
JULIA JACKLIN -- Crushing
KEVIN MORBY -- Oh My God
LOS LOBOS -- Llegó Navidad
STILE ANTICO -- A Spanish Nativity
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- The Christmas Present
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2018
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Girl From Chickaswaw County boxed set
JANELLE MONÁE -- Dirty Computer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Heaven And Earth
ANGELIQUE KIDJO -- Remain In Light
BAD BUNNY -- X100PRE
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Pray For The Wicked
BRANDI CARLISLE -- By The Way, I Forgive You
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- Nothing Doing
NELLIE MCKAY -- Sister Orchid
BETA RADIO -- Transition
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black Panther
YOUNG GUN SILVER FOX -- AM Waves
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- The Window
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Campfire
BENJAMIN JAFFE -- Oh, Wild Oceans Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- African Scream Contest 2
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Can't Wake Up
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- 12 Little Steps
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Look Now
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Tell Me How You Really Feel
TONY BENNETT AND DIANA KRALL -- Love Is Here To Stay
BIRCH PEREIRA -- Western Soul
TRACEY THORN -- Record
SCOTT MATTHEWS -- The Great Untold
MACY GRAY -- Ruby
JASON ALDEAN -- Rearview Town
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Anthem
DRAKE -- Scorpion
JAMES HUNTER -- Whatever It Takes
TROYE SIVAN -- Bloom
RICK SPRINGFIELD -- The Snake King
LINDA THOMPSON -- My Mother Doesn't Know I'm On The Stage
FALL OUT BOY -- Mania
ROSEANNE CASH -- She Remembers Everything
BUDDY GUY -- The Blues Is Alive And Well
GORILLAZ -- The Now Now
MANDY PATINKIN -- Diary: January 27, 2018/April May 2018
JOSH ROUSE -- Love In The Modern Age
THE VINES -- In Miracle Land
JEFF TWEEDY -- Warm
BOZ SCAGGS -- Out Of The Blues
ELLA FITZGERALD/LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Cheek To Cheek: The Complete Duet Recordings
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- The Window
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Campfire
BENJAMIN JAFFE -- Oh, Wild Oceans Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- African Scream Contest 2
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Can't Wake Up
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- 12 Little Steps
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Look Now
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Tell Me How You Really Feel
NAS -- Nasir
TONY BENNETT AND DIANA KRALL -- Love Is Here To Stay
BIRCH PEREIRA -- Western Soul
TRACEY THORN -- Record
SCOTT MATTHEWS -- The Great Untold
MACY GRAY -- Ruby
JASON ALDEAN -- Rearview Town
MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Anthem
DRAKE -- Scorpion
JAMES HUNTER -- Whatever It Takes
TROYE SIVAN -- Bloom
RICK SPRINGFIELD -- The Snake King
LINDA THOMPSON -- My Mother Doesn't Know I'm On The Stage
FALL OUT BOY -- Mania
ROSEANNE CASH -- She Remembers Everything
BUDDY GUY -- The Blues Is Alive And Well
GORILLAZ -- The Now Now
MANDY PATINKIN -- Diary: January 27, 2018/April May 2018
JOSH ROUSE -- Love In The Modern Age
THE VINES -- In Miracle Land
JEFF TWEEDY -- Warm
BOZ SCAGGS -- Out Of The Blues
ELLA FITZGERALD/LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Cheek To Cheek: The Complete Duet Recordings
(Click here for a complete breakdown of who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2017
CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- Dreams And Daggers
CHRIS STAPLETON -- From A Room, Vol. 1
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Tribute To Ndiouga Dieng
SZA -- Ctrl
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hadestown Original Cast Album (Off Bway)
JOHN MORELAND -- Big Bad Luv
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 50 Song Memoir
SIA -- Everyday is Christmas
THE JOHN SALLY RIDE -- A New Set Of Downs
COURTNEY BARNETT AND KURT VILE -- Lotta Sea Lice
KASEY CHAMBERS -- Dragonfly
BOB DYLAN -- Triplicate
DANIEL CAESAR -- Freudian
JASON ISBELL -- The Nashville Sound
MARGO PRICE -- All American Made
KENDRICK LAMAR -- Damn
KRONOS QUARTET AND TRIO DA KALI -- Ladilikan
STANTON MOORE -- With You In Mind
AIMEE MANN -- Mental Illness
JAKE XERXES FUSSELL -- What In The Natural World
LORDE -- Melodrama
DON BRYANT -- Don't Give Up On Love
ROBERT CRAY AND HI RHYTHM -- Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm
CURTIS HARDING -- Face Your Fears
CHARLY BLISS -- Guppy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in The Park With George (Bway 2017)
THE NATIONAL -- Sleep Well Beast
MOSES SUMNEY -- Aromanticism
SAMPHA -- Process
WESLEY STACE'S JOHN WESLEY HARDING -- Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding
DORA FREEMAN -- Letter Never Sent
ANNA TIVEL -- Small Believer
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- Harmony of Difference
CHEAP TRICK -- We're All Alright!
SAZ'SIO -- At Least Wave Your Handkerchief At Me
RON SEXSMITH -- The Last Rider
INDIA.ARIE -- Songversation: Medicine
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Contraband Love
KHALID -- American Teen
ZULI -- On Human Freakout Mountain
LEWIS CAPALDI -- Bloom
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Southern Soul Crate
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Baby Driver OST
RODNEY CROWELL -- Close Ties
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Sad Clowns and Hillbillies
OZUNA -- Odisea
LIAM GALLAGHER -- As You Were
DAVID RAWLINGS -- Poor David's Almanack
JUANES -- Mis Planes Son Amarte
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Come All Ye -- The First Ten Years (1968-1978)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs Of Peace and Love
HOBO JOHNSON -- The Rise Of Hobo Johnson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2016
DAVID BOWIE -- Blackstar + Lazarus EP
LEONARD COHEN -- You Want It Darker
MAXWELL -- blackSUMMERnights
CHANCE THE RAPPER -- Coloring Book
JOSHUA REDMAN AND BRAD MEHLDAU -- Nearness
EMMYLOU HARRIS, DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT -- Trio: The Complete Collection
TEDDY THOMPSON AND KELLY JONES -- Little Windows
SOLANGE -- A Seat At The Table
JAMES HUNTER -- Hold On!
STURGILL SIMPSON -- A Sailor's Guide To Earth
KANYE WEST -- The Life Of Pablo
THE MONKEES -- Good Times!
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Remember Us To Life
KENNY BARRON -- Book Of Intuition
RADIOHEAD -- A Moon Shaped Pool
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- The Weight Of These Wings
GREEN DAY -- Revolution Radio
BOB DYLAN -- Fallen Angels
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Death Of A Bachelor
MAHALIA JACKSON -- Moving On Up A Little Higher
DORI FREEMAN -- Dori Freeman
MARGO PRICE -- Midwest Farmer's Daughter
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST -- We've Got It From Here...Thank You For Your Service
PET SHOP BOYS -- Super
MUDCRUTCH -- Mudcrutch 2
JUDY COLLINS -- Silver Skies Blue
SHIRLEY COLLINS -- Lodestar
NICHOLAS KRGOVICH -- The Hills
JANE SIBERRY -- Ulysses' Purse
CAR SEAT HEADREST -- Teens Of Denial
JACK WHITE -- Acoustic Recordings: 1998-2016
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Legerdemain/American Psycho
JOE LOVANO -- Classic! Live At Newport
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Swimming Pools, Movie Stars
KING CREOSOTE AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON -- When I Was A Thief
LUCKY PETERSON -- Long Nights
PJ HARVEY -- The Hope Six Demolition Project
COMMON -- Black America Again
LED ZEPPELIN -- The BBC Sessions
CALYPSO ROSE -- Far From Home
ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Dear Evan Hansen
BRIAN ENO -- The Ship
PSYCHIC TEMPLE -- Plays Music For Airports
THE STRUTS -- Everybody Wants Some
case/lang/viers -- case/lang/viers
CONOR OBERST -- Ruminations
HOUSTON PEARSON AND RON CARTER -- Chemistry
CHARLIE PUTH -- Nine Track Mind
BRENNEN LEIGH -- Sings Lefty Frizzell
THE LUMINEERS -- Cleopatra
LAURA MVULA -- The Dreaming Room
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- Emily's D-evolution
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Heart Speaks
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2015
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell
JILL SCOTT -- Woman
KENDRICK LAMAR -- To Pimp A Butterfly
CHRIS STAPLETON -- Traveller
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- Dark Bird Is Home
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Sometimes I Just Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit
TONY BENNETT AND BILL CHARLAP -- The Silver Lining: The SongsOf Jerome Kern *** 1/2
THE FRATELLIS -- Eyes Wide Tongue Tied
IRIS DEMENT -- The Trackless Woods
IKE REILLY -- Born On Fire
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- The Epic
BOZ SCAGGS -- A Fool To Care
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Pageant Material
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA -- Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast)
ORANGE HUMBLE BAND -- Depressing Beauty
COWBOY JUNKIES -- Notes Falling Slowly
TINARIWEN -- Live In Paris, 2014
CARRIE UNDERWOOD -- Storyteller
TAME IMPALA -- Currents
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
AMY LAVERE AND WILL SEXTON -- Hallelujah I'm A Dreamer
DRAKE -- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
WYNTON MARSALIS/JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER BIG BAND -- Big Band Holiday
SARA BAREILLES -- What's Inside: Music From Waitress
JASON ISBELL -- Something More Than Free
VINCE STAPLES -- Summertime '06
VERUCA SALT -- Ghost Notes
LOS LOBOS -- Gates Of Gold
LINDI ORTEGA -- Faded Gloryville
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Nobody's Fool
STEVE EARLE -- Terraplace
FALL OUT BOY -- American Beauty/American Psycho
GARNET MIMMS -- Looking For You: The Complete United Artists and Veep Singles /
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Servant Of Love
LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER -- After
BONES -- Powder
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- Second-Hand Heart
DANIEL ROMANO -- If I've Only One Time Askin'
ADELE -- 25
THE MAVERICKS -- Mono
ANDERSON EAST -- Delilah
DON HENLEY -- Cass County
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Tell Me I'm Pretty
ERIC CHURCH -- Mr. Misunderstood
BOB DYLAN -- Shadows In The Night
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- Give The People What They Want
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Double EP: A Sea Of Spilt Peas
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Ocean
BONES -- Skinny and Rotten and Seabed et al
BECK -- Morning Phase
THE FEELING -- Boy Cried Wolf
AMY LAVERE -- Runaway's Diary
BETTY BUCKLEY -- Ghostlight
BRIAN ENO AND KARL HYDE -- Someday World
BETA RADIO -- Colony Of Bees
BEN L'ONCLE SOUL -- A Coup de Reves
JIMMER PODRASKY -- The Would-Be Plans
CHUCK PROPHET -- Night Surfer
HENRY BUTLER AND STEVEN BERNSTEIN -- Viper's Drag
ARIANA GRANDE -- My Everything
TINARIWEN -- Emmar
THE VINES -- Wicked Nature
BENJAMIN BOOKER -- Benjamin Booker
DAMON ALBARN -- Everyday Robots
MARY J BLIGE -- The London Sessions
J COLE -- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF -- Small Town Heroes
ROSANNE CASH -- The River And The Thread
HAMILTON LEITHAUSER -- Dark Hours
DYLAN GARDNER -- Adventures In Real Time (tie) and
PETE MOLINARI -- Theosophy '14 (tie)
COMMON -- Nobody's Smiling
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Our Year
LEONARD COHEN -- Popular Problems
GREG ASHLEY -- Another Generation of Slaves
STANTON MOORE -- Conversations
THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER -- Midnight Sun
SKATERS -- Manhattan
TOM PETTY -- Hypnotic Eye
BEN HOWARD -- I Forget Where We Were
RUMER -- Into Colour
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- Under The Radar, Vol. 1
JOHN HIATT -- Terms Of My Surrender
SHE AND HIM -- Classics
THE VERONICAS -- The Veronicas
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW -- Remedy
tUnE yArDs -- Nikki Nack
TIM MCGRAW -- Sundown Heaven Town
NEIL DIAMOND -- Melody Road (tie)
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs (tie)
THE LIVING SISTERS -- Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday
MARGO GURYAN -- 27 Demos
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2013
1-10ish
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady
DAVID BOWIE -- The Next Day
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- New
FRANK TURNER -- Tape Deck Heart
BOMBINO -- Nomad
LINDA THOMPSON -- Won't Be Long Now
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- AM
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Modern Vampires Of The City
JAMES COTTON -- Cotton Mouth Man
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
PATTY GRIFFIN -- American Kid and Silver Bell
11-20
BOB DYLAN -- Another Self Portrait
CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- WomanChild
THE LONE BELLOW -- The Lone Bellow
DAFT PUNK -- Random Access Memories
LORDE -- Pure Heroin(e)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP2
JOHN MAYER -- Paradise Valley
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Cheater's Game
KODALINE -- In A Perfect World
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die
MAVIS STAPLES -- One True Vine
21-30
THE WATERBOYS -- Fisherman Box
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Electric
RHYE -- Woman
LAURA MVULA -- Sing To The Moon
BRAD PAISLEY -- Wheelhouse
THE MAVERICKS -- In Time
RON SEXSMITH -- Forever Endeavor
KING KRULE -- 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
MIDLAKE -- Antiphon
31-40
HOLLY WILLIAMS -- The Highway
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Same Trailer, Different Park
LITTLE GREEN CARS -- Absolute Zero
41-49
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG AND NORAH JONES -- Foreverly
ALICE RUSSELL -- To Dust
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth
JASON ISBELL -- Southeastern
JOHN MORELAND -- In The Throes
LINDI ORTEGA -- Tin Star
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Song Cycled
THE CIVIL WARS -- The Civil Wars
PREFAB SPROUT -- Crimson Red
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Inside Llewyn Davis
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Pure McCartney
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
1. RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (70s pop perfection)
2. BRANFORD MARSALIS -- Four MF's Playin' Their Tunes (hard-driving jazz; faultless)
3. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- There's No Leaving Now(inspiringly good Dylanesque rock)
4. FRANK OCEAN -- Channel Orange (state of the art soul)
5. PAUL BUCHANAN -- Mid Air (emotionally intense, late night confessions)
BILL FAY -- Life Is People (age+wisdom+piano+God)
6. JOHANN JOHANNSSON -- The Miners' Hymns (the film score of the year)
7. FIONA APPLE -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (pop artist at peak of her powers)
8. JAMEY JOHNSON -- Living For A Dream: A Tribute To Hank Cochran (all-star country hoedown)
9. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Wrecking Ball (life in them old dogs yet)
BOB DYLAN -- Tempest
10. DR. JOHN -- Locked Down (triumphant New Orleans music)
TRACEY THORN -- Tinsel and Lights (Christmas, sadly)
11. KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Wreck And Ruin (world class folk-country-blues)
12. NAS -- Life Is Good (rap for grown ups)
13. LEONARD COHEN -- Old Ideas (magisterial pop)
14. JOSEPHINE -- Portrait (two English lasses with talent to burn)
LIANNA LA HAVAS -- Is Your Love Big Enough
15. GRANT LEE-PHILLIPS -- Walking In The Green Corn (acoustic gem)
16. ANTIBALAS -- Antibalas (Fela Kuti lives!)
17. IRIS DEMENT -- Sing The Delta (comeback of the year)
BOO HANS WITH DON FLEMONS -- Buffalo Junction
18. VIJAY AYER TRIO -- Accelerando (jazz piano)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Where Do You Start/Ode
19. THE HIVES -- Lex Hives (rock, by god)
JAPANDROID -- Celebration Rock
THE DOUGHBOYS -- Shakin' Our Souls
20. MUMFORD AND SONS -- Babel (flowering of Americana)
THE LUMINEERS -- The Lumineers
PIGPEN THEATRE CO. -- Bremen
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- The Carpenter
21. CHRIS SMITHER -- Hundred Dollar Valentine (blues master)
22. DIANA KRALL -- Glad Rag Doll (digging deeper jazz talent)
23. ED SHEERAN -- + (thoughtful British pop)
24. KENDRICK LAMAR -- good kid, mA.A.d city (rap smarts)
25. MELODY GARDOT -- The Absence (singular voice heads to Brazil)
26. FATHER JOHN MISTY -- Fear Fun (Fleet Foxes redux, in a good way)
DAMIEN JURADO -- Maraqopa
LORD HURON -- Impossible Dreams
BOY AND BEAR -- Moonfire
27. THE TIME JUMPERS -- The Time Jumpers (Western swing)
28. NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE -- Psychedelic Pill/Americana (still kicking, still stinging)
29. WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth (guitar instrumental) (officially out March 2013)
30. BETTYE LAVETTE -- Thankful N' Thoughtful (soul survivor)
31. BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Volume 3 (unexpected gem from vault)
32. MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Home Again (70s soul circa Bill Withers)
MIGUEL -- Kaleidoscope Dream (70s soul circa Marvin Gaye)
33. REGINA SPEKTOR -- What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (quirky pop)
NORAH JONES -- Little Broken Hearts (leaving jazz behind)
34. JACK WHITE -- Blunderbuss (eclectic; electric)
35. TAME IMPALA -- Lonerism (psychedelica redefined)
36. GREEN DAY -- Uno!/Dos!/Tres! (purging punk pop)
37. BRANDI CARLILE -- Bear Creek (an indie voice in the wilderness)
38. RAVI COLTRANE -- Spirit Fiction (jazz royalty, wearing the crown well)
39. JOHN MAYER -- Born And Raised (skip the interviews, play the music)
40. PUNCH BROTHERS -- Who's Feeling Young Now?/Ahoy (bluegrass expanded)
JASON ALDEAN -- Night Train (country demanded)
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- 3 Pears (rebel remanded)
41. BRIAN ENO -- Lux (genius in solo instrumental mode)
42. BRUNO MARS -- Unorthodox Jukebox (Michael Jackson's heir apparent)
43. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol. 4: Songs Of Family (revealing catalog)
44. JAKE BUGG -- Jake Bugg (promising UK folkie)
45. BAND OF HORSES -- Mirage Rock (career best for rockers)
46. THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (miserablist pop)
47. BRYAN FERRY -- The Jazz Age (left turn instrumentals)
48. DAVID BYRNE AND ST. VINCENT -- Love This Giant (a rock giant shows signs of life)
49. DAMON ALBARN -- Dr. Dee (pastoral concept album about English eccentric)
50. KRIS KRISTOFFERSON -- Feeling Mortal (one foot in the grave country)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2011
1. FLEET FOXES -- Helplessness Blues (CSN rocks out)
2. TOM WAITS -- Bad As Me (bohemian troubadour in top form)
3. KING CREOSOTE AND JON HOPKINS -- Diamond Mine (quirky concept album, gorgeously done)
4. GILLIAN WELCH -- The Harrow and the Harvest (simple, straightforward, striking folk)
5. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Bella / kd lang Sing It Loud
RON SEXSMITH -- Long Player, Late Bloomer (pure pop by pure pros)
6. WYNTON MARSALIS AND ERIC CLAPTON -- Play the Blues
BRANFORD MARSALIS AND JOEY CALDARAZZO -- Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (trad jazz)
7. GLEN CAMPBELL -- Ghost on the Canvas (haunting country pop)
8. BOMBINO -- Agadez (Tuareg rocks!)
BOUBACAR TRAORE -- Mali Denhou (gentle African guitar)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs From a Zulu Farm (ecstatic and playful children's music)
9. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African American Gospel on 45 RPM (1957-1982) (lo-fi, high flying gospel that's so good you'll convert)
10. ADELE -- 21 (unstoppable soul diva)
***
11. GROUPLOVE -- Never Trust a Happy Song (raucous LA pop-rock)
12. PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Vices and Virtues (sterling but overlooked pop-rock)
13. NICK LOWE -- The Old Magic (vintage wine, vintage bottle)
14. WILD FLAG -- Wild Flag (giving super groups a good name)
15. BRAD MEHLDAU -- Modern Music (dependably adventurous jazz trio)
COLIN VALLON -- Rruger (bold EU trio following in Mehldau's wake)
16. JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST -- Watch the Throne (braggadocio taken to new heights)
17. BON IVER -- Bon Iver (stares down success with quiet confidence)
18. BALLAKE SISSOKO AND VINCENT SEGAL -- Chamber Music (delicate instrumentals)
19. PAUL SIMON -- So Beautiful or So What (mortality, musically)
20. BETH HART AND JOE BONAMASSA -- Don't Explain (the blues, thumpingly good)
***
21. PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND AND DEL MCCOURY BAND -- American Legacies (an institution finds new life via collaboration)
22. AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE -- When the Heart Emerges Glistening (quietly probing jazz)
23. JAMES BLAKE -- James Blake (trippy pop)
24. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Live From the Old Town School (folk's beating heart)
25. GIRLS -- Father, Son, Holy Ghost (interesting identity crisis)
26. TINARIWEN -- Tassili (bluesy, distinctive, campfire sing-alongs)
27. JOY FORMIDABLE -- The Big Roar (noisy pop)
28. DARI0 MARINELLI WITH JACK LIEBECK -- Jane Eyre soundtrack (the year's best score)
MATTHEW COOPER -- Some Days Are Better Than Others (the year's best untraditional score)
29. THE CORAL -- Butterfly House
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Runaway (pop, unimported, unrecognized)
30. PISTOL ANNIES -- Pistol Annies
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Four The Record (country's top gal and friends)
***
31. THE LOW ANTHEM -- Smart Flesh (brainy Americana)
32. CHARLIE HADEN AND QUARTET WEST -- Sophisticated Ladies (female singers, jazz swingers)
33. THE BLACK KEYS -- El Camino (rock, no fuss)
34. M83 -- Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (ambient pop)
35. ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION -- Paper Airplanes
JOHN HIATT -- Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (old dogs, old tricks, happily so)
36. BEASTIE BOYS -- Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two (feisty hip-hop from the old-timers)
37. BEN HOWARD -- Every Kingdom (gentle pop)
MIKE BLOOM -- King Of Circles (warm singer-songwriter vibe for this solo debut)
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Towards The Sun (Nick Drake reincarnation)
38. VINICIUS CANTUARIA AND BILL FRISELL -- Lagrimas Mexicanas (two great guitars, one great voice equal haunting Latin music)/
39. THE GOURDS -- Old Mad Joy (rootsy celebration)
MARC BROUSSARD -- Marc Broussard (bluesy rock)
40. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close-Up Volume 3: State Of Being (acoustic songs, electric songwriting)
***
41. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Those Shocking, Shaking Days: Indonesia Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk (1970-1978) (rock and roll knows no borders)
42. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Book of Mormon Original Cast Album (religiously funny)
43. DRAKE -- Take Care (emo-rap)
SHABAZZ PALACES -- Black Up
44. BRAD PAISLEY -- This Is Country Music (yes it is)
STEVE EARLE -- I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (determined, focused country)
45. MEGAFAUN -- Megafaun ('70s-ish rock)
46. FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- Fatou (Malian guitar talent combined with impeccable vocals) KHAIRA ARBY -- Timbukto Traab (country to Diawara's city sound; not locale so much as the gritty, rawer feel)
47. HOUSTON PERSON -- So Nice (late period capper for understated jazz blower)
48. REAL ESTATE -- Days -- (shimmering indie pop)
49. EILEEEN JEWELL -- Queen of the Minor Key (sneakily impressive)
50. FRANK OCEAN -- nostalgia/ultra (backward/forward looking moody pop)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2010
1. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt/Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird (Dylanesque folk-rock)
2. PETER WOLF -- Midnight Souvenirs (raucous career peak)
3. ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABTE -- Ali And Toumani (transcendent world music)
4. ARCADE FIRE -- The Suburbs (state of the art rock)
5. JANELLE MONAE -- The ArchAndroid
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh (Prince-like funky soul pop craziness)
6. BUDDY GUY -- Living Proof (ferocious blues)
7. EMINEM -- Recovery
KANYE WEST -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (rap comebacks)
8. JOHN GRANT -- Queen Of Denmark
MIDLAKE -- The Courage Of Others (gorgeous rock; British folk)
9. KEITH JARRETT AND CHARLIE HADEN -- Jasmine (sublime, beautiful jazz)
10. MUMFORD AND SONS -- Sigh No More (literate rock)
***
11. SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- I Learned The Hard Way (soul -- not retro, just timeless)
12. SUFJAN STEVENS -- All Delighted People EP (nutty rock)
13. ROBERT PLANT -- Band Of Joy (folk-rock, Fairport Convention via Nashville)
14. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Afrocubism (Buena Vista Social Club spliced with Malian pop)
15. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- Danger Days (anthemic rock)
16. TRACEY THORN -- Love and Its Opposite (adult pop)
17. PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- Preservation (an all-star album that actually works)
18. BRUNO MARS -- Doo-Wops And Hooligans
ROBYN -- Body Talk (irresistible pop)
19. GORILLAZ -- Plastic Beach (genre-jumping rock)
20. NEIL YOUNG -- Le Noise (stomping folk)
***
21. CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS -- Genuine Negro Jigs (trad, modern, country, folk, blues, unclassifiable)
22. ELIZABETH AND THE CATAPULTS -- Other Side Of Zero (promising debut)
23. BEACH HOUSE -- Teen Dreams (alterna-pop)
24. JAMEY JOHNSON -- The Guitar Song (no fuss country)
25. BEST COAST -- Crazy For You (lo-fi Beach Boys pop)
26. BRENDAN JAMES -- Brendan James (a career peak)
27. THE BLACK KEYS -- Brothers (smart rock)
28. HOLE -- Nobody's Daughter (Courtney Love doesn't get any respect but deserves it)
29. CYRUS CHESNUTT - Journeys (trad jazz done with class)
30. SADE -- Soldier Of Love (smooth pop, never misses a beat)
***
31. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Classic Appalachian Blues (a rich vein of folk blues)
32. THE NATIONAL -- High Violet (moody rock sounds more like the Swans every day)
33. THE ROOTS -- How I Got Over (hip-hop for adults)
34. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol 1: Love Songs (folk-pop)
35. ELTON JOHN AND LEON RUSSELL -- The Union (old friends, strong new music)
36. SHE AND HIM -- Volume 2 (girl group pop)
37. FOXES IN FICTION -- Swung From The Branches (swirly, headphone rock)
38. LIL BAND O' GOLD -- Lil Band O' Gold (New Orleans gem)
39. ELIZABETH MITCHELL -- Sunny Day (infectious kids' music)
40. LIONEL LUEKE -- Mwaliko (sophisticated jazz)
***
41. TOM JONES -- Praise And Blame (joyful gospel)
42. WILLIAM TYLER -- Behold The Spirit (terrific instrumental a la Fahey)
43. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound of Siam (eye-opening Asian pop)
44. VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Contra (world pop)
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB -- Tourist History (if Vampire Weekend had a kid brother)
45. ELVIS COSTELLO -- National Ransom (rootsy rock from the genre-hopping savant)
46. 3 FERVENT TRAVELERS -- Time For Three (bluegrass taken out of the museum)
47. CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Sea (dark, vulnerable pop)
48. MEAGHAN SMITH -- The Cricket's Orchestra (refined pop)
49. DENNIS BROWN -- The Crown Prince Of Reggae: Singles 1972-1985 (incomplete but still great anthology)
50. CASSANDRA WILSON -- Silver Pony (jazz vocals, classy)
BRIAN ENO -- Small Craft On A Milk Sea (electronic noodling)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
1. THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (Americana)
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Far (quirky pop via Russian kitsch)
2. ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood (swinging jazz vocalese)
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
3. MAXWELL -- BLACKsummers'night (Seventies soul)
4. WILLIE NELSON -- American Classic (Stardust II)
ROSANNE CASH -- The List (the Great American Songbook, country style)
5. MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Bare Bones
MELODY GARDOT -- My One And Only Thrill
KRISTINA TRAIN -- Spilt Milk (songbirds, via Paris and Memphis)
6. MARK OLSON AND GARY LOURIS -- Ready For The Flood (Jayhawks redux)
7. MAYER HAWTHORNE -- A Strange Arrangement (blue eyed soul)
8. LOUDON WAINWRIGHT -- High, Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (hilarious, heartfelt blues)
9. THE XX -- The XX (boy-girl dynamics)
GIRLS -- Album (quietly ambitious rock)
10. DUNCAN SHEIK -- Whisper House (the real twilight soundtrack)
***
11. NELLIE MCKAY -- Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute To Doris Day (effortless old-fashioned pop)
12. THE BLACK CROWES -- Before The Frost...Until The Freeze (roots rock enlivened by a live audience)
13. BRAD PAISLEY -- American Saturday Night (country with a dash of humor)
14. ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The Bright Mississippi (casual jazz brilliance)
SHIRLEY COLLINS -- Lodestar
NICHOLAS KRGOVICH -- The Hills
JANE SIBERRY -- Ulysses' Purse
CAR SEAT HEADREST -- Teens Of Denial
JACK WHITE -- Acoustic Recordings: 1998-2016
DUNCAN SHEIK -- Legerdemain/American Psycho
JOE LOVANO -- Classic! Live At Newport
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Swimming Pools, Movie Stars
KING CREOSOTE AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON -- When I Was A Thief
LUCKY PETERSON -- Long Nights
PJ HARVEY -- The Hope Six Demolition Project
COMMON -- Black America Again
LED ZEPPELIN -- The BBC Sessions
CALYPSO ROSE -- Far From Home
ORIGINAL CAST ALBUM -- Dear Evan Hansen
BRIAN ENO -- The Ship
PSYCHIC TEMPLE -- Plays Music For Airports
THE STRUTS -- Everybody Wants Some
case/lang/viers -- case/lang/viers
CONOR OBERST -- Ruminations
HOUSTON PEARSON AND RON CARTER -- Chemistry
CHARLIE PUTH -- Nine Track Mind
BRENNEN LEIGH -- Sings Lefty Frizzell
THE LUMINEERS -- Cleopatra
LAURA MVULA -- The Dreaming Room
ESPERANZA SPALDING -- Emily's D-evolution
CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Heart Speaks
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2015
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Carrie and Lowell
JILL SCOTT -- Woman
KENDRICK LAMAR -- To Pimp A Butterfly
CHRIS STAPLETON -- Traveller
THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- Dark Bird Is Home
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Sometimes I Just Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit
TONY BENNETT AND BILL CHARLAP -- The Silver Lining: The SongsOf Jerome Kern *** 1/2
THE FRATELLIS -- Eyes Wide Tongue Tied
IRIS DEMENT -- The Trackless Woods
IKE REILLY -- Born On Fire
KAMASI WASHINGTON -- The Epic
BOZ SCAGGS -- A Fool To Care
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Pageant Material
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA -- Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast)
ORANGE HUMBLE BAND -- Depressing Beauty
COWBOY JUNKIES -- Notes Falling Slowly
TINARIWEN -- Live In Paris, 2014
CARRIE UNDERWOOD -- Storyteller
TAME IMPALA -- Currents
LARRY CAMPBELL AND TERESA WILLIAMS -- Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams
AMY LAVERE AND WILL SEXTON -- Hallelujah I'm A Dreamer
DRAKE -- If You're Reading This, It's Too Late
WYNTON MARSALIS/JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER BIG BAND -- Big Band Holiday
SARA BAREILLES -- What's Inside: Music From Waitress
JASON ISBELL -- Something More Than Free
VINCE STAPLES -- Summertime '06
VERUCA SALT -- Ghost Notes
LOS LOBOS -- Gates Of Gold
LINDI ORTEGA -- Faded Gloryville
SHAKEY GRAVES -- Nobody's Fool
STEVE EARLE -- Terraplace
FALL OUT BOY -- American Beauty/American Psycho
GARNET MIMMS -- Looking For You: The Complete United Artists and Veep Singles /
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
PATTY GRIFFIN -- Servant Of Love
LADY LAMB THE BEEKEEPER -- After
BONES -- Powder
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- Second-Hand Heart
DANIEL ROMANO -- If I've Only One Time Askin'
ADELE -- 25
THE MAVERICKS -- Mono
ANDERSON EAST -- Delilah
DON HENLEY -- Cass County
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Tell Me I'm Pretty
ERIC CHURCH -- Mr. Misunderstood
BOB DYLAN -- Shadows In The Night
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2014
KAISER CHIEFS -- Education, Education, Education and War
STURGILL SIMPSON -- Metamodern Sounds In Country Music
SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- Give The People What They Want
COURTNEY BARNETT -- Double EP: A Sea Of Spilt Peas
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS -- Become Ocean
BONES -- Skinny and Rotten and Seabed et al
BECK -- Morning Phase
THE FEELING -- Boy Cried Wolf
AMY LAVERE -- Runaway's Diary
BETTY BUCKLEY -- Ghostlight
BRIAN ENO AND KARL HYDE -- Someday World
BETA RADIO -- Colony Of Bees
BEN L'ONCLE SOUL -- A Coup de Reves
JIMMER PODRASKY -- The Would-Be Plans
CHUCK PROPHET -- Night Surfer
HENRY BUTLER AND STEVEN BERNSTEIN -- Viper's Drag
ARIANA GRANDE -- My Everything
TINARIWEN -- Emmar
THE VINES -- Wicked Nature
BENJAMIN BOOKER -- Benjamin Booker
DAMON ALBARN -- Everyday Robots
MARY J BLIGE -- The London Sessions
J COLE -- 2014 Forest Hills Drive
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF -- Small Town Heroes
ROSANNE CASH -- The River And The Thread
HAMILTON LEITHAUSER -- Dark Hours
DYLAN GARDNER -- Adventures In Real Time (tie) and
PETE MOLINARI -- Theosophy '14 (tie)
COMMON -- Nobody's Smiling
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Our Year
LEONARD COHEN -- Popular Problems
GREG ASHLEY -- Another Generation of Slaves
STANTON MOORE -- Conversations
THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER -- Midnight Sun
SKATERS -- Manhattan
TOM PETTY -- Hypnotic Eye
BEN HOWARD -- I Forget Where We Were
RUMER -- Into Colour
ROBBIE WILLIAMS -- Under The Radar, Vol. 1
JOHN HIATT -- Terms Of My Surrender
SHE AND HIM -- Classics
THE VERONICAS -- The Veronicas
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW -- Remedy
tUnE yArDs -- Nikki Nack
TIM MCGRAW -- Sundown Heaven Town
NEIL DIAMOND -- Melody Road (tie)
BARRY MANILOW -- Night Songs (tie)
THE LIVING SISTERS -- Harmony Is Real: Songs For A Happy Holiday
MARGO GURYAN -- 27 Demos
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2013
1-10ish
JANELLE MONAE -- The Electric Lady
DAVID BOWIE -- The Next Day
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- New
FRANK TURNER -- Tape Deck Heart
BOMBINO -- Nomad
LINDA THOMPSON -- Won't Be Long Now
ARCTIC MONKEYS -- AM
VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Modern Vampires Of The City
JAMES COTTON -- Cotton Mouth Man
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
PATTY GRIFFIN -- American Kid and Silver Bell
11-20
BOB DYLAN -- Another Self Portrait
CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT -- WomanChild
THE LONE BELLOW -- The Lone Bellow
DAFT PUNK -- Random Access Memories
LORDE -- Pure Heroin(e)
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP2
JOHN MAYER -- Paradise Valley
KELLY WILLIS AND BRUCE ROBISON -- Cheater's Game
KODALINE -- In A Perfect World
PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die
MAVIS STAPLES -- One True Vine
21-30
THE WATERBOYS -- Fisherman Box
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Electric
RHYE -- Woman
LAURA MVULA -- Sing To The Moon
BRAD PAISLEY -- Wheelhouse
THE MAVERICKS -- In Time
RON SEXSMITH -- Forever Endeavor
KING KRULE -- 6 Feet Beneath The Moon
MIDLAKE -- Antiphon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Divided and United: Songs Of The Civil War
31-40
ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ROOTS -- Wake Up Ghost
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Melophobia
CAGE THE ELEPHANT -- Melophobia
GUY CLARK -- My Favorite Picture Of You
BASTILLE -- Bad Blood
ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- Songbook
DANNY BROWN -- Old
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- Magpie and the DandelionHOLLY WILLIAMS -- The Highway
KACEY MUSGRAVES -- Same Trailer, Different Park
LITTLE GREEN CARS -- Absolute Zero
41-49
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG AND NORAH JONES -- Foreverly
ALICE RUSSELL -- To Dust
WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth
JASON ISBELL -- Southeastern
JOHN MORELAND -- In The Throes
LINDI ORTEGA -- Tin Star
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Song Cycled
THE CIVIL WARS -- The Civil Wars
PREFAB SPROUT -- Crimson Red
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Inside Llewyn Davis
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Pure McCartney
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2012
1. RUMER -- Seasons Of My Soul/Boys Don't Cry (70s pop perfection)
2. BRANFORD MARSALIS -- Four MF's Playin' Their Tunes (hard-driving jazz; faultless)
3. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- There's No Leaving Now(inspiringly good Dylanesque rock)
4. FRANK OCEAN -- Channel Orange (state of the art soul)
5. PAUL BUCHANAN -- Mid Air (emotionally intense, late night confessions)
BILL FAY -- Life Is People (age+wisdom+piano+God)
6. JOHANN JOHANNSSON -- The Miners' Hymns (the film score of the year)
7. FIONA APPLE -- The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do (pop artist at peak of her powers)
8. JAMEY JOHNSON -- Living For A Dream: A Tribute To Hank Cochran (all-star country hoedown)
9. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Wrecking Ball (life in them old dogs yet)
BOB DYLAN -- Tempest
10. DR. JOHN -- Locked Down (triumphant New Orleans music)
TRACEY THORN -- Tinsel and Lights (Christmas, sadly)
11. KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Wreck And Ruin (world class folk-country-blues)
12. NAS -- Life Is Good (rap for grown ups)
13. LEONARD COHEN -- Old Ideas (magisterial pop)
14. JOSEPHINE -- Portrait (two English lasses with talent to burn)
LIANNA LA HAVAS -- Is Your Love Big Enough
15. GRANT LEE-PHILLIPS -- Walking In The Green Corn (acoustic gem)
16. ANTIBALAS -- Antibalas (Fela Kuti lives!)
17. IRIS DEMENT -- Sing The Delta (comeback of the year)
BOO HANS WITH DON FLEMONS -- Buffalo Junction
18. VIJAY AYER TRIO -- Accelerando (jazz piano)
BRAD MEHLDAU -- Where Do You Start/Ode
19. THE HIVES -- Lex Hives (rock, by god)
JAPANDROID -- Celebration Rock
THE DOUGHBOYS -- Shakin' Our Souls
20. MUMFORD AND SONS -- Babel (flowering of Americana)
THE LUMINEERS -- The Lumineers
PIGPEN THEATRE CO. -- Bremen
THE AVETT BROTHERS -- The Carpenter
21. CHRIS SMITHER -- Hundred Dollar Valentine (blues master)
22. DIANA KRALL -- Glad Rag Doll (digging deeper jazz talent)
23. ED SHEERAN -- + (thoughtful British pop)
24. KENDRICK LAMAR -- good kid, mA.A.d city (rap smarts)
25. MELODY GARDOT -- The Absence (singular voice heads to Brazil)
26. FATHER JOHN MISTY -- Fear Fun (Fleet Foxes redux, in a good way)
DAMIEN JURADO -- Maraqopa
LORD HURON -- Impossible Dreams
BOY AND BEAR -- Moonfire
27. THE TIME JUMPERS -- The Time Jumpers (Western swing)
28. NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZY HORSE -- Psychedelic Pill/Americana (still kicking, still stinging)
29. WILLIAM TYLER -- Impossible Truth (guitar instrumental) (officially out March 2013)
30. BETTYE LAVETTE -- Thankful N' Thoughtful (soul survivor)
31. BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Volume 3 (unexpected gem from vault)
32. MICHAEL KIWANUKA -- Home Again (70s soul circa Bill Withers)
MIGUEL -- Kaleidoscope Dream (70s soul circa Marvin Gaye)
33. REGINA SPEKTOR -- What We Saw From The Cheap Seats (quirky pop)
NORAH JONES -- Little Broken Hearts (leaving jazz behind)
34. JACK WHITE -- Blunderbuss (eclectic; electric)
35. TAME IMPALA -- Lonerism (psychedelica redefined)
36. GREEN DAY -- Uno!/Dos!/Tres! (purging punk pop)
37. BRANDI CARLILE -- Bear Creek (an indie voice in the wilderness)
38. RAVI COLTRANE -- Spirit Fiction (jazz royalty, wearing the crown well)
39. JOHN MAYER -- Born And Raised (skip the interviews, play the music)
40. PUNCH BROTHERS -- Who's Feeling Young Now?/Ahoy (bluegrass expanded)
JASON ALDEAN -- Night Train (country demanded)
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- 3 Pears (rebel remanded)
41. BRIAN ENO -- Lux (genius in solo instrumental mode)
42. BRUNO MARS -- Unorthodox Jukebox (Michael Jackson's heir apparent)
43. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol. 4: Songs Of Family (revealing catalog)
44. JAKE BUGG -- Jake Bugg (promising UK folkie)
45. BAND OF HORSES -- Mirage Rock (career best for rockers)
46. THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (miserablist pop)
47. BRYAN FERRY -- The Jazz Age (left turn instrumentals)
48. DAVID BYRNE AND ST. VINCENT -- Love This Giant (a rock giant shows signs of life)
49. DAMON ALBARN -- Dr. Dee (pastoral concept album about English eccentric)
50. KRIS KRISTOFFERSON -- Feeling Mortal (one foot in the grave country)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2011
1. FLEET FOXES -- Helplessness Blues (CSN rocks out)
2. TOM WAITS -- Bad As Me (bohemian troubadour in top form)
3. KING CREOSOTE AND JON HOPKINS -- Diamond Mine (quirky concept album, gorgeously done)
4. GILLIAN WELCH -- The Harrow and the Harvest (simple, straightforward, striking folk)
5. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Bella / kd lang Sing It Loud
RON SEXSMITH -- Long Player, Late Bloomer (pure pop by pure pros)
6. WYNTON MARSALIS AND ERIC CLAPTON -- Play the Blues
BRANFORD MARSALIS AND JOEY CALDARAZZO -- Songs of Mirth and Melancholy (trad jazz)
7. GLEN CAMPBELL -- Ghost on the Canvas (haunting country pop)
8. BOMBINO -- Agadez (Tuareg rocks!)
BOUBACAR TRAORE -- Mali Denhou (gentle African guitar)
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Songs From a Zulu Farm (ecstatic and playful children's music)
9. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African American Gospel on 45 RPM (1957-1982) (lo-fi, high flying gospel that's so good you'll convert)
10. ADELE -- 21 (unstoppable soul diva)
***
11. GROUPLOVE -- Never Trust a Happy Song (raucous LA pop-rock)
12. PANIC! AT THE DISCO -- Vices and Virtues (sterling but overlooked pop-rock)
13. NICK LOWE -- The Old Magic (vintage wine, vintage bottle)
14. WILD FLAG -- Wild Flag (giving super groups a good name)
15. BRAD MEHLDAU -- Modern Music (dependably adventurous jazz trio)
COLIN VALLON -- Rruger (bold EU trio following in Mehldau's wake)
16. JAY-Z AND KANYE WEST -- Watch the Throne (braggadocio taken to new heights)
17. BON IVER -- Bon Iver (stares down success with quiet confidence)
18. BALLAKE SISSOKO AND VINCENT SEGAL -- Chamber Music (delicate instrumentals)
19. PAUL SIMON -- So Beautiful or So What (mortality, musically)
20. BETH HART AND JOE BONAMASSA -- Don't Explain (the blues, thumpingly good)
***
21. PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND AND DEL MCCOURY BAND -- American Legacies (an institution finds new life via collaboration)
22. AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE -- When the Heart Emerges Glistening (quietly probing jazz)
23. JAMES BLAKE -- James Blake (trippy pop)
24. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Live From the Old Town School (folk's beating heart)
25. GIRLS -- Father, Son, Holy Ghost (interesting identity crisis)
26. TINARIWEN -- Tassili (bluesy, distinctive, campfire sing-alongs)
27. JOY FORMIDABLE -- The Big Roar (noisy pop)
28. DARI0 MARINELLI WITH JACK LIEBECK -- Jane Eyre soundtrack (the year's best score)
MATTHEW COOPER -- Some Days Are Better Than Others (the year's best untraditional score)
29. THE CORAL -- Butterfly House
THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Runaway (pop, unimported, unrecognized)
30. PISTOL ANNIES -- Pistol Annies
MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Four The Record (country's top gal and friends)
***
31. THE LOW ANTHEM -- Smart Flesh (brainy Americana)
32. CHARLIE HADEN AND QUARTET WEST -- Sophisticated Ladies (female singers, jazz swingers)
33. THE BLACK KEYS -- El Camino (rock, no fuss)
34. M83 -- Hurry Up, We're Dreaming (ambient pop)
35. ALISON KRAUSS AND UNION STATION -- Paper Airplanes
JOHN HIATT -- Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (old dogs, old tricks, happily so)
36. BEASTIE BOYS -- Hot Sauce Committee, Part Two (feisty hip-hop from the old-timers)
37. BEN HOWARD -- Every Kingdom (gentle pop)
MIKE BLOOM -- King Of Circles (warm singer-songwriter vibe for this solo debut)
ALEXI MURDOCH -- Towards The Sun (Nick Drake reincarnation)
38. VINICIUS CANTUARIA AND BILL FRISELL -- Lagrimas Mexicanas (two great guitars, one great voice equal haunting Latin music)/
39. THE GOURDS -- Old Mad Joy (rootsy celebration)
MARC BROUSSARD -- Marc Broussard (bluesy rock)
40. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close-Up Volume 3: State Of Being (acoustic songs, electric songwriting)
***
41. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Those Shocking, Shaking Days: Indonesia Hard, Psychedelic, Progressive Rock and Funk (1970-1978) (rock and roll knows no borders)
42. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Book of Mormon Original Cast Album (religiously funny)
43. DRAKE -- Take Care (emo-rap)
SHABAZZ PALACES -- Black Up
44. BRAD PAISLEY -- This Is Country Music (yes it is)
STEVE EARLE -- I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive (determined, focused country)
45. MEGAFAUN -- Megafaun ('70s-ish rock)
46. FATOUMATA DIAWARA -- Fatou (Malian guitar talent combined with impeccable vocals) KHAIRA ARBY -- Timbukto Traab (country to Diawara's city sound; not locale so much as the gritty, rawer feel)
47. HOUSTON PERSON -- So Nice (late period capper for understated jazz blower)
48. REAL ESTATE -- Days -- (shimmering indie pop)
49. EILEEEN JEWELL -- Queen of the Minor Key (sneakily impressive)
50. FRANK OCEAN -- nostalgia/ultra (backward/forward looking moody pop)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2010
1. THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH -- The Wild Hunt/Sometimes The Blues Is Just A Passing Bird (Dylanesque folk-rock)
2. PETER WOLF -- Midnight Souvenirs (raucous career peak)
3. ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABTE -- Ali And Toumani (transcendent world music)
4. ARCADE FIRE -- The Suburbs (state of the art rock)
5. JANELLE MONAE -- The ArchAndroid
ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah Part Two: Return of The Ankh (Prince-like funky soul pop craziness)
6. BUDDY GUY -- Living Proof (ferocious blues)
7. EMINEM -- Recovery
KANYE WEST -- My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (rap comebacks)
8. JOHN GRANT -- Queen Of Denmark
MIDLAKE -- The Courage Of Others (gorgeous rock; British folk)
9. KEITH JARRETT AND CHARLIE HADEN -- Jasmine (sublime, beautiful jazz)
10. MUMFORD AND SONS -- Sigh No More (literate rock)
***
11. SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS -- I Learned The Hard Way (soul -- not retro, just timeless)
12. SUFJAN STEVENS -- All Delighted People EP (nutty rock)
13. ROBERT PLANT -- Band Of Joy (folk-rock, Fairport Convention via Nashville)
14. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Afrocubism (Buena Vista Social Club spliced with Malian pop)
15. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- Danger Days (anthemic rock)
16. TRACEY THORN -- Love and Its Opposite (adult pop)
17. PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND -- Preservation (an all-star album that actually works)
18. BRUNO MARS -- Doo-Wops And Hooligans
ROBYN -- Body Talk (irresistible pop)
19. GORILLAZ -- Plastic Beach (genre-jumping rock)
20. NEIL YOUNG -- Le Noise (stomping folk)
***
21. CAROLINA CHOCOLATE DROPS -- Genuine Negro Jigs (trad, modern, country, folk, blues, unclassifiable)
22. ELIZABETH AND THE CATAPULTS -- Other Side Of Zero (promising debut)
23. BEACH HOUSE -- Teen Dreams (alterna-pop)
24. JAMEY JOHNSON -- The Guitar Song (no fuss country)
25. BEST COAST -- Crazy For You (lo-fi Beach Boys pop)
26. BRENDAN JAMES -- Brendan James (a career peak)
27. THE BLACK KEYS -- Brothers (smart rock)
28. HOLE -- Nobody's Daughter (Courtney Love doesn't get any respect but deserves it)
29. CYRUS CHESNUTT - Journeys (trad jazz done with class)
30. SADE -- Soldier Of Love (smooth pop, never misses a beat)
***
31. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Classic Appalachian Blues (a rich vein of folk blues)
32. THE NATIONAL -- High Violet (moody rock sounds more like the Swans every day)
33. THE ROOTS -- How I Got Over (hip-hop for adults)
34. SUZANNE VEGA -- Close Up Vol 1: Love Songs (folk-pop)
35. ELTON JOHN AND LEON RUSSELL -- The Union (old friends, strong new music)
36. SHE AND HIM -- Volume 2 (girl group pop)
37. FOXES IN FICTION -- Swung From The Branches (swirly, headphone rock)
38. LIL BAND O' GOLD -- Lil Band O' Gold (New Orleans gem)
39. ELIZABETH MITCHELL -- Sunny Day (infectious kids' music)
40. LIONEL LUEKE -- Mwaliko (sophisticated jazz)
***
41. TOM JONES -- Praise And Blame (joyful gospel)
42. WILLIAM TYLER -- Behold The Spirit (terrific instrumental a la Fahey)
43. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound of Siam (eye-opening Asian pop)
44. VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Contra (world pop)
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB -- Tourist History (if Vampire Weekend had a kid brother)
45. ELVIS COSTELLO -- National Ransom (rootsy rock from the genre-hopping savant)
46. 3 FERVENT TRAVELERS -- Time For Three (bluegrass taken out of the museum)
47. CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- The Sea (dark, vulnerable pop)
48. MEAGHAN SMITH -- The Cricket's Orchestra (refined pop)
49. DENNIS BROWN -- The Crown Prince Of Reggae: Singles 1972-1985 (incomplete but still great anthology)
50. CASSANDRA WILSON -- Silver Pony (jazz vocals, classy)
BRIAN ENO -- Small Craft On A Milk Sea (electronic noodling)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2009
1. THE AVETT BROTHERS -- I And Love And You (Americana)
REGINA SPEKTOR -- Far (quirky pop via Russian kitsch)
2. ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood (swinging jazz vocalese)
KEITH JARRETT -- Somewhere
3. MAXWELL -- BLACKsummers'night (Seventies soul)
4. WILLIE NELSON -- American Classic (Stardust II)
ROSANNE CASH -- The List (the Great American Songbook, country style)
5. MADELEINE PEYROUX -- Bare Bones
MELODY GARDOT -- My One And Only Thrill
KRISTINA TRAIN -- Spilt Milk (songbirds, via Paris and Memphis)
6. MARK OLSON AND GARY LOURIS -- Ready For The Flood (Jayhawks redux)
7. MAYER HAWTHORNE -- A Strange Arrangement (blue eyed soul)
8. LOUDON WAINWRIGHT -- High, Wide And Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project (hilarious, heartfelt blues)
9. THE XX -- The XX (boy-girl dynamics)
GIRLS -- Album (quietly ambitious rock)
10. DUNCAN SHEIK -- Whisper House (the real twilight soundtrack)
***
11. NELLIE MCKAY -- Normal As Blueberry Pie: A Tribute To Doris Day (effortless old-fashioned pop)
12. THE BLACK CROWES -- Before The Frost...Until The Freeze (roots rock enlivened by a live audience)
13. BRAD PAISLEY -- American Saturday Night (country with a dash of humor)
14. ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The Bright Mississippi (casual jazz brilliance)
IRMA THOMAS -- The Soul Queen Of New Orleans 50th Anniversary Celebration
15. PEARL JAM -- Backspacer (the sound of veterans waking up)
GREEN DAY -- 21st Century Breakdown (worthy successor to American Idiot; really)
16. BASSEKOU KOUYATE -- I Speak Fula
VIEUX FARKA TOURE -- Fondo (world class world music)
17. CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND -- Outer South (Americana)
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Mountain Meadows (Canadiana)
LOW ANTHEM -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (evolutiona)
18. ALICIA KEYS -- The Element Of Freedom (tougher beats; same talent)
19. M WARD -- Hold Time (faithful pop)
20. RZA -- Afro Samurai: Resurrection
RAEKWON -- Only Built For Cuban Linx...Part II (keeping the lights on for hip-hop)
***
21. JAMES HAND -- Shadow On The Ground (honky-tonk to its bone)
22. MONSTERS OF FOLK -- Monsters Of Folk (a super supergroup)
23. BRENDAN BENSON -- My Old, Familiar Friend (power pop)
24. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds AND Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981 (Soundways, the world music label du jour, delivers again)
25. MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 2 (Seventies power pop done to perfection)
26. MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Revolution (a Nashville star)
CLAIRE LYNCH -- Whatcha Gonna Do (bluegrass heaven)
27. PHOENIX -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (college rock, but still good)
28. SUFJAN STEVENS AND OSSO -- Run Rabbit Run (instrumentals a la Glass)
29. ST. VINCENT -- Actor (quiet/loud/quiet/strange)
30. JAY-Z -- The Blueprint 3 (luxury hip hop)
***
31. JESSE WINCHESTER -- Love Filling Station (journeyman troubadour delivers)
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely (late 1950s recordings)
32. PREFAB SPROUT -- Let's Change The World With Music (lost in the vaults gem)
33. GERAINT WATKINS -- In A Bad Mood (Randy Newman and Tom Waits' love child)
34. ELVIS COSTELLO -- Secret, Profane And Sugarcane (elder statesman can still deliver)
35. CHIP TAYLOR -- Yonkers NY (story-song oddity)
36. TORI AMOS -- Midwinter Graces (a holiday album for the ages)
37. DIANA KRALL -- Quiet Nights (Elvis's better half delivers again)
38. THE BLACK HOLLIES -- Softly, Towards The Light (psychedelic nuggets)
39. MIKA -- The Boy Who Knew Too Much (pure pop, with swagger)
40. RICKIE LEE JONES -- Balm In Gilead (return to form)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008
1. WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads
2. FLEET FOXES -- Fleet Foxes
PETER BRODERICK -- Home
3. MAVIS STAPLES -- Live: Hope At The Holdout
4. TEDDY THOMPSON -- A Piece Of What You Need
kd lang -- Watershed
5. DEL MCCOURY BAND AND VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Moneyland
6. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds And Nigerian Blues 1970-1976
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sounds Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979
7. KAISER CHIEFS -- Off With Their Heads
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS -- The Age Of The Understatement
8. BOZ SCAGGS -- Speak Low
9. ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah (4th World War) Part One
10. BON IVER -- For Emma, Forever Ago
BON IVER -- Blood Bank
***
11. B.B. KING -- One Kind Favor
12. Q-TIP -- The Renaissance
NAS -- Nas
13. PAUL WELLER -- 22 Dreams
14. JENNY LEWIS -- Acid Tongue
15. SAM ROBERTS -- Love At The End Of The World
16. KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Rattlin' Bones
17. SHE AND HIM -- Volume One
18. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- New Orleans Funk Volume 2
19. NEIL DIAMOND -- Home Before Dark
JOAN BAEZ -- Day After Tomorrow
20. SANTOGOLD -- Santogold
***
21. SONNY ROLLINS -- Road Show Vol. 1
22. SOUTSIDE JOHNNY WITH LABAMBA'S BIG BAND -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits
23. THE FRATELLIS -- Here We Stand
24. INARA GEORGE -- An Invitation with Van Dyke Parks
25. AL GREEN -- Lay It Down
26. LIONEL LOUKE -- Karibu
27. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM -- The '59 Sound
28. CHARLIE HADEN -- Family And Friends: Rambling Boy
29. JAMES HUNTER -- The Hard Way
30. MARTHA WAINWRIGHT -- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
***
31. RICKY IAN GORDON AND MICHAEL KORIE -- The Grapes Of Wrath
32. VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Vampire Weekend
33. OTIS TAYLOR -- Recapturing The Banjo
34. THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Distortion
35. SHELBY LYNNE -- Just A Little Lovin'
36. BLACK MOUNTAIN -- In The Future
37. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The George Mitchell Collection Volumes 1-45
38. BILL HENDERSON -- Live At The Vic
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Loverly
39. AIMEE MANN -- @#%&*! Smilers
40. JONAS BROTHERS -- A Little Bit Longer
***
41. THE CURE -- 4:13 Dream
42. DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
DAVID BYRNE -- Big Love: Hymnal
43. CONO OBERST -- Conor Oberst
44. NICK CAVE -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
SIGUR ROS -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
RON SEXSMITH -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul
45. ELBOW -- The Seldom Seen Kid
46. THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The End Of The World (Live)
47. THE RACONTUERS-- Consolers Of The Lonely
48. ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS -- Another World EP
49. SUGARLAND -- Love On The Inside
JAMEY JOHNSON -- That Lonesome Song
50. DANIELA COTTON -- Rare Child
THE WHIGS -- Mission Control
CORY CHISEL AND THE WANDERING SONS -- Cabin Ghosts
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2007
1. SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (classic soul)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Debaters Soundtrack (juke joint music)
2. AMY WINEHOUSE -- Back To Black (bruised retro soul)
3. RADIOHEAD -- In Rainbows (the world-conquering pop they were born to make)
4. TINARIWEN -- Aman Iman: Water Is Life (desert rock)
5. ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raising Sand (adult pop)
6. THE WHITE STRIPES -- Icky Thump (bluesy, stomping rock n roll)
7. TERENCE BLANCHARD -- A Tale of God's Will (a requiem for Katrina) (melancholic jazz
JONNY GREENWOOD -- There Will Be Blood (spooky, spine-tingling score)
8. PATTY GRIFFIN -- Children Running Through (career-capping Americana)
9. STEVE EARLE -- Washington Square Serenade
SUZANNE VEGA -- Beauty and Crimes (country and folk pop triumphs both, but don't call it a comeback)
10. JAMIE T -- Panic Prevention
LIVESAVAS - Gutterfly (Brit rap; Seventies funk fantasia)
***
11. ARCADE FIRE -- Neon Bible (art rock a la Talking Heads)
12. ANDY BEY -- Ain't Necessarily So (searching jazz vocals)
13. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Traffic and Weather (pure pop)
RON SEXSMITH -- Time Being (purer pop)
14. TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- The Voice Of Lightness (floating, Al Green-like world music)
15. THE FEELING -- Twelve Stops and Home (Seventies AM radio)
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music (raucous rock)
16. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Upfront and Down Low (dignified country classics)
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Sweet Warrior (sterling rock)
LINDA THOMPSON -- Versatile Heart (delicate folk pop)
17. BASSEKOU KUYATE AND NGONI BA -- Segu Blue (irresistible world music for people mourning Ali Farka)
18. HERBIE HANCOCK -- River: The Joni Letters (Mitchell done proud via jazz))
19. WILLIE NELSON, MERLE HAGGARD, RAY PRICE -- Last Of The Breed (country summit) LEVON HELM -- Dirt Farmer (Lazarus-like revival)
PORTER WAGONER -- Wagonmaster (classy send-off)
20. ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Favourite Worst Nightmare (jagged Brit pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Yours Truly, Angry Mob (spiky but smooth Brit pop)
***
21. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Roots Of Chica - Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru (garage rock via South America)
22. COMMON -- Finding Forever (rap for adults)
23. STEPHEN FRETWELL -- Man On The Roof (unheralded UK folk-pop)
24. BETTYE LAVETTE -- The Scene Of The Crime (steeped in wisdom soul)
MARY WEISS -- Dangerous Game (old school pop, happily)
25. JOSH RITTER -- The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (literate folk pop with a smile)
26. ANDY PALACIO AND THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Watina
PUERTO PLATA -- Mujer de Cabaret (both beautiful, vanishing traditions)
27. THE HIVES -- The Black and White Album (confident, swaggering rock)
28. DAVID BROMBERG -- Try Me One More Time
JOHN HAMMOND -- Push Comes To Shove (grizzled old white man blues)
WATERMELON SLIM AND THE WORKERS - The Wheel Man (the blues, you fool)
29. ROBERT WYATT -- Comicopera (eccentric pop-jazz thingamajig)
30. THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The London Book Of The Dead (sneakily ambitious retro pop)
***
31. JOAN ARMATRADING -- Into The Blues (do call it a comeback)
32. THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Those The Brokes (disappointing but good)
DARREN HAYES -- This Delicate Thing We've Made (good but disappointing)
33. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WITH THE SESSIONS BAND -- Live In Dublin (party in the barn music)
34. NICOLE ATKINS -- Neptune City (brooding, Orbison-like pop)
35. SERGIO AND ODAIR ASSAD -- Jardim Abandonado (telepathic classical guitar)
36. RAUL MALO -- After Hours (countrypolitan with velvet vocals)
37. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company Original Broadway Cast (2007) (Sondheim, passionately)
38. KELLY WILLIS -- Translated From Love (country, smartly)
BRAD PAISLEY -- 5th Gear
39. PANDA BEAR -- Person Pitch (Brian Wilson on LSD, if that's not redundant)
40. OVER THE RHINE -- Snow Angels (Christmas rock for NPR listeners)
AIMEE MANN -- Another Drifter In The Snow (Christmas gem)
***
41. JENS LEKMAN -- Night Falls Over Kortedala (Magentic Fields via Sweden)
42. IAN HUNTER -- Shrunken Heads (cock rock)
43. BEIRUT -- The Flying Cup Club
44. JUANES -- La Vida (fist-shaking rock)
45. THE HOLMES BROTHERS -- State of Grace (master class in the blues)
46. GLEN HANSARD AND MARKETA IRGLOVA -- The Swell Season (you know, those great songs from the movie Once)
47. RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS -- Follow The Lights (Americana, again)
48. JOHN CORIGLIANO -- Music For String Quartet (American classical)
49. DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER -- Red Earth: A Malian Journey (jazz meets Mali)
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Sings Abbey (astringent jazz)
50. THE DONNAS -- Bitchin' (dumb, fun as hell Eighties rock)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2006
1. CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (tie)
15. PEARL JAM -- Backspacer (the sound of veterans waking up)
GREEN DAY -- 21st Century Breakdown (worthy successor to American Idiot; really)
16. BASSEKOU KOUYATE -- I Speak Fula
VIEUX FARKA TOURE -- Fondo (world class world music)
17. CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND -- Outer South (Americana)
ELLIOTT BROOD -- Mountain Meadows (Canadiana)
LOW ANTHEM -- Oh My God, Charlie Darwin (evolutiona)
18. ALICIA KEYS -- The Element Of Freedom (tougher beats; same talent)
19. M WARD -- Hold Time (faithful pop)
20. RZA -- Afro Samurai: Resurrection
RAEKWON -- Only Built For Cuban Linx...Part II (keeping the lights on for hip-hop)
***
21. JAMES HAND -- Shadow On The Ground (honky-tonk to its bone)
22. MONSTERS OF FOLK -- Monsters Of Folk (a super supergroup)
23. BRENDAN BENSON -- My Old, Familiar Friend (power pop)
24. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ghana Special: Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds AND Ghanaian Blues 1968-1981 (Soundways, the world music label du jour, delivers again)
25. MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 2 (Seventies power pop done to perfection)
26. MIRANDA LAMBERT -- Revolution (a Nashville star)
CLAIRE LYNCH -- Whatcha Gonna Do (bluegrass heaven)
27. PHOENIX -- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (college rock, but still good)
28. SUFJAN STEVENS AND OSSO -- Run Rabbit Run (instrumentals a la Glass)
29. ST. VINCENT -- Actor (quiet/loud/quiet/strange)
30. JAY-Z -- The Blueprint 3 (luxury hip hop)
***
31. JESSE WINCHESTER -- Love Filling Station (journeyman troubadour delivers)
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely (late 1950s recordings)
32. PREFAB SPROUT -- Let's Change The World With Music (lost in the vaults gem)
33. GERAINT WATKINS -- In A Bad Mood (Randy Newman and Tom Waits' love child)
34. ELVIS COSTELLO -- Secret, Profane And Sugarcane (elder statesman can still deliver)
35. CHIP TAYLOR -- Yonkers NY (story-song oddity)
36. TORI AMOS -- Midwinter Graces (a holiday album for the ages)
37. DIANA KRALL -- Quiet Nights (Elvis's better half delivers again)
38. THE BLACK HOLLIES -- Softly, Towards The Light (psychedelic nuggets)
39. MIKA -- The Boy Who Knew Too Much (pure pop, with swagger)
40. RICKIE LEE JONES -- Balm In Gilead (return to form)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008
1. WILLIE NELSON AND WYNTON MARSALIS -- Two Men With The Blues
WYNTON MARSALIS -- Standards and Ballads
2. FLEET FOXES -- Fleet Foxes
PETER BRODERICK -- Home
3. MAVIS STAPLES -- Live: Hope At The Holdout
4. TEDDY THOMPSON -- A Piece Of What You Need
kd lang -- Watershed
5. DEL MCCOURY BAND AND VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Moneyland
6. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds And Nigerian Blues 1970-1976
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nigeria Disco Funk Special: The Sounds Of The Underground Lagos Dancefloor 1974-1979
7. KAISER CHIEFS -- Off With Their Heads
THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS -- The Age Of The Understatement
8. BOZ SCAGGS -- Speak Low
9. ERYKAH BADU -- New Amerykah (4th World War) Part One
10. BON IVER -- For Emma, Forever Ago
BON IVER -- Blood Bank
***
11. B.B. KING -- One Kind Favor
12. Q-TIP -- The Renaissance
NAS -- Nas
13. PAUL WELLER -- 22 Dreams
14. JENNY LEWIS -- Acid Tongue
15. SAM ROBERTS -- Love At The End Of The World
16. KASEY CHAMBERS AND SHANE NICHOLSON -- Rattlin' Bones
17. SHE AND HIM -- Volume One
18. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- New Orleans Funk Volume 2
19. NEIL DIAMOND -- Home Before Dark
JOAN BAEZ -- Day After Tomorrow
20. SANTOGOLD -- Santogold
***
21. SONNY ROLLINS -- Road Show Vol. 1
22. SOUTSIDE JOHNNY WITH LABAMBA'S BIG BAND -- Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits
23. THE FRATELLIS -- Here We Stand
24. INARA GEORGE -- An Invitation with Van Dyke Parks
25. AL GREEN -- Lay It Down
26. LIONEL LOUKE -- Karibu
27. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM -- The '59 Sound
28. CHARLIE HADEN -- Family And Friends: Rambling Boy
29. JAMES HUNTER -- The Hard Way
30. MARTHA WAINWRIGHT -- I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
***
31. RICKY IAN GORDON AND MICHAEL KORIE -- The Grapes Of Wrath
32. VAMPIRE WEEKEND -- Vampire Weekend
33. OTIS TAYLOR -- Recapturing The Banjo
34. THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- Distortion
35. SHELBY LYNNE -- Just A Little Lovin'
36. BLACK MOUNTAIN -- In The Future
37. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The George Mitchell Collection Volumes 1-45
38. BILL HENDERSON -- Live At The Vic
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Loverly
39. AIMEE MANN -- @#%&*! Smilers
40. JONAS BROTHERS -- A Little Bit Longer
***
41. THE CURE -- 4:13 Dream
42. DAVID BYRNE AND BRIAN ENO -- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
DAVID BYRNE -- Big Love: Hymnal
43. CONO OBERST -- Conor Oberst
44. NICK CAVE -- Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
SIGUR ROS -- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
RON SEXSMITH -- Exit Strategy Of The Soul
45. ELBOW -- The Seldom Seen Kid
46. THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The End Of The World (Live)
47. THE RACONTUERS-- Consolers Of The Lonely
48. ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS -- Another World EP
49. SUGARLAND -- Love On The Inside
JAMEY JOHNSON -- That Lonesome Song
50. DANIELA COTTON -- Rare Child
THE WHIGS -- Mission Control
CORY CHISEL AND THE WANDERING SONS -- Cabin Ghosts
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2007
1. SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS -- 100 Days 100 Nights (classic soul)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Debaters Soundtrack (juke joint music)
2. AMY WINEHOUSE -- Back To Black (bruised retro soul)
3. RADIOHEAD -- In Rainbows (the world-conquering pop they were born to make)
4. TINARIWEN -- Aman Iman: Water Is Life (desert rock)
5. ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS -- Raising Sand (adult pop)
6. THE WHITE STRIPES -- Icky Thump (bluesy, stomping rock n roll)
7. TERENCE BLANCHARD -- A Tale of God's Will (a requiem for Katrina) (melancholic jazz
JONNY GREENWOOD -- There Will Be Blood (spooky, spine-tingling score)
8. PATTY GRIFFIN -- Children Running Through (career-capping Americana)
9. STEVE EARLE -- Washington Square Serenade
SUZANNE VEGA -- Beauty and Crimes (country and folk pop triumphs both, but don't call it a comeback)
10. JAMIE T -- Panic Prevention
LIVESAVAS - Gutterfly (Brit rap; Seventies funk fantasia)
***
11. ARCADE FIRE -- Neon Bible (art rock a la Talking Heads)
12. ANDY BEY -- Ain't Necessarily So (searching jazz vocals)
13. FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Traffic and Weather (pure pop)
RON SEXSMITH -- Time Being (purer pop)
14. TABU LEY ROCHEREAU -- The Voice Of Lightness (floating, Al Green-like world music)
15. THE FEELING -- Twelve Stops and Home (Seventies AM radio)
THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music (raucous rock)
16. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Upfront and Down Low (dignified country classics)
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Sweet Warrior (sterling rock)
LINDA THOMPSON -- Versatile Heart (delicate folk pop)
17. BASSEKOU KUYATE AND NGONI BA -- Segu Blue (irresistible world music for people mourning Ali Farka)
18. HERBIE HANCOCK -- River: The Joni Letters (Mitchell done proud via jazz))
19. WILLIE NELSON, MERLE HAGGARD, RAY PRICE -- Last Of The Breed (country summit) LEVON HELM -- Dirt Farmer (Lazarus-like revival)
PORTER WAGONER -- Wagonmaster (classy send-off)
20. ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Favourite Worst Nightmare (jagged Brit pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Yours Truly, Angry Mob (spiky but smooth Brit pop)
***
21. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Roots Of Chica - Psychedelic Cumbias From Peru (garage rock via South America)
22. COMMON -- Finding Forever (rap for adults)
23. STEPHEN FRETWELL -- Man On The Roof (unheralded UK folk-pop)
24. BETTYE LAVETTE -- The Scene Of The Crime (steeped in wisdom soul)
MARY WEISS -- Dangerous Game (old school pop, happily)
25. JOSH RITTER -- The Historical Conquests Of Josh Ritter (literate folk pop with a smile)
26. ANDY PALACIO AND THE GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE -- Watina
PUERTO PLATA -- Mujer de Cabaret (both beautiful, vanishing traditions)
27. THE HIVES -- The Black and White Album (confident, swaggering rock)
28. DAVID BROMBERG -- Try Me One More Time
JOHN HAMMOND -- Push Comes To Shove (grizzled old white man blues)
WATERMELON SLIM AND THE WORKERS - The Wheel Man (the blues, you fool)
29. ROBERT WYATT -- Comicopera (eccentric pop-jazz thingamajig)
30. THE REAL TUESDAY WELD -- The London Book Of The Dead (sneakily ambitious retro pop)
***
31. JOAN ARMATRADING -- Into The Blues (do call it a comeback)
32. THE MAGIC NUMBERS -- Those The Brokes (disappointing but good)
DARREN HAYES -- This Delicate Thing We've Made (good but disappointing)
33. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN WITH THE SESSIONS BAND -- Live In Dublin (party in the barn music)
34. NICOLE ATKINS -- Neptune City (brooding, Orbison-like pop)
35. SERGIO AND ODAIR ASSAD -- Jardim Abandonado (telepathic classical guitar)
36. RAUL MALO -- After Hours (countrypolitan with velvet vocals)
37. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company Original Broadway Cast (2007) (Sondheim, passionately)
38. KELLY WILLIS -- Translated From Love (country, smartly)
BRAD PAISLEY -- 5th Gear
39. PANDA BEAR -- Person Pitch (Brian Wilson on LSD, if that's not redundant)
40. OVER THE RHINE -- Snow Angels (Christmas rock for NPR listeners)
AIMEE MANN -- Another Drifter In The Snow (Christmas gem)
***
41. JENS LEKMAN -- Night Falls Over Kortedala (Magentic Fields via Sweden)
42. IAN HUNTER -- Shrunken Heads (cock rock)
43. BEIRUT -- The Flying Cup Club
44. JUANES -- La Vida (fist-shaking rock)
45. THE HOLMES BROTHERS -- State of Grace (master class in the blues)
46. GLEN HANSARD AND MARKETA IRGLOVA -- The Swell Season (you know, those great songs from the movie Once)
47. RYAN ADAMS AND THE CARDINALS -- Follow The Lights (Americana, again)
48. JOHN CORIGLIANO -- Music For String Quartet (American classical)
49. DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER -- Red Earth: A Malian Journey (jazz meets Mali)
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Sings Abbey (astringent jazz)
50. THE DONNAS -- Bitchin' (dumb, fun as hell Eighties rock)
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2006
1. CORINNE BAILEY RAE -- Corinne Bailey Rae (tie)
JAMES HUNTER -- People Gonna Talk (tie)
2. BOB DYLAN -- Modern Times
3. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- The Black Parade
4. ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
5. MIDLAKE -- The Trials of Van Occupanther
6. ROSEANNE CASH -- Black Cadillac (tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American V: A Hundred Highways
7. MAX RICHTER -- Songs From Before
8. CAT POWER -- The Greatest
9. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions -- American Land Edition
SOLOMON BURKE -- Nashville
RICHARD THOMPSON -- 1000 Years of Popular Music
10. IRMA THOMAS -- After The Rain
2. BOB DYLAN -- Modern Times
3. MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE -- The Black Parade
4. ARCTIC MONKEYS -- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
5. MIDLAKE -- The Trials of Van Occupanther
6. ROSEANNE CASH -- Black Cadillac (tie)
JOHNNY CASH -- American V: A Hundred Highways
7. MAX RICHTER -- Songs From Before
8. CAT POWER -- The Greatest
9. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions -- American Land Edition
SOLOMON BURKE -- Nashville
RICHARD THOMPSON -- 1000 Years of Popular Music
10. IRMA THOMAS -- After The Rain
ELVIS COSTELLO AND ALLEN TOUSSAINT -- The River In Reverse
***
11. The LA'S -- BBC In Session
12. CANDI STATON -- His Hands (tie)
CANDI STATON -- The Ultimate Gospel Collection
13. DUNCAN SHEIK -- White Limousine (tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Spring Awakening Original Cast Recording
14. HOWARD TATE -- A Portrait Of Howard
15. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound
16. M. WARD -- Post-War
17. REGINA SPEKTOR -- Begin To Hope
18. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Separate Ways (tie)
THE STROKES -- First Impressions Of Earth
19. TOUMANI DIANATE'S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA -- Boulevard De L'Independance
20. MUSE -- Black Holes and Revelations
***
21. ALI FARKA TOURE -- Savane
22. THE STREETS -- The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
23. JAMES HAND -- The Truth Will Set You Free
24. DRAKE BELL -- It's Only Time
***
11. The LA'S -- BBC In Session
12. CANDI STATON -- His Hands (tie)
CANDI STATON -- The Ultimate Gospel Collection
13. DUNCAN SHEIK -- White Limousine (tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Spring Awakening Original Cast Recording
14. HOWARD TATE -- A Portrait Of Howard
15. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia: A Brazilian Revolution In Sound
16. M. WARD -- Post-War
17. REGINA SPEKTOR -- Begin To Hope
18. TEDDY THOMPSON -- Separate Ways (tie)
THE STROKES -- First Impressions Of Earth
19. TOUMANI DIANATE'S SYMMETRIC ORCHESTRA -- Boulevard De L'Independance
20. MUSE -- Black Holes and Revelations
***
21. ALI FARKA TOURE -- Savane
22. THE STREETS -- The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living
23. JAMES HAND -- The Truth Will Set You Free
24. DRAKE BELL -- It's Only Time
25. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Rough Guide To Latin-Arabia
26. VETIVER -- To Find Me Gone
27. CASSANDRA WILSON -- Thunderbird
28. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Grey Gardens Original Cast Recording
29. THE RACONTEURS -- Broken Boy Soldiers
30. LARRY LEVAN -- Journey Into Paradise...The Larry Levan Story
***
31. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Billy Elliot Original Cast Recording
32. RAHIM ALHAJ -- When The Soul Is Settled: Music Of Iraq
33. WOLFMOTHER -- Wolfmother
34. SMOKEY ROBINSON -- Timeless Love
35. CAST KING -- Saw Mill Man
36. THE ROOTS -- Game Theory
37. JOSH RITTER -- The Animal Years
38. MANA -- Amar Es Combatir
39. STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd Original Cast Recording
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday In The Park With George 2006 London Cast Recording
40. MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 1
***
41. DIXIE CHICKS -- Taking The Long Way
42. LUPE FIASCO -- Food And Liquor
43. THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music
44. THE VINES -- Vision Valley
45. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Motion Picture Soundtrack
46. LINDA RONSTADT AND ANN SAVOY-- Adieu False Heart
47. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- Futuresex/LoveSounds
48. PAUL SIMON -- Surprise
49. BEIRUT -- Gulag Orkestar
50. NELLIE MCKAY -- Pretty Little Head
51. ALEXI MURDOCH -- Time Without Consequences
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2005
1. SUFJAN STEVENS – Illinois (eclectic pop)
26. VETIVER -- To Find Me Gone
27. CASSANDRA WILSON -- Thunderbird
28. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Grey Gardens Original Cast Recording
29. THE RACONTEURS -- Broken Boy Soldiers
30. LARRY LEVAN -- Journey Into Paradise...The Larry Levan Story
***
31. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Billy Elliot Original Cast Recording
32. RAHIM ALHAJ -- When The Soul Is Settled: Music Of Iraq
33. WOLFMOTHER -- Wolfmother
34. SMOKEY ROBINSON -- Timeless Love
35. CAST KING -- Saw Mill Man
36. THE ROOTS -- Game Theory
37. JOSH RITTER -- The Animal Years
38. MANA -- Amar Es Combatir
39. STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd Original Cast Recording
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday In The Park With George 2006 London Cast Recording
40. MATTHEW SWEET AND SUSANNA HOFFS -- Under The Covers Vol. 1
***
41. DIXIE CHICKS -- Taking The Long Way
42. LUPE FIASCO -- Food And Liquor
43. THE FRATELLIS -- Costello Music
44. THE VINES -- Vision Valley
45. VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man Motion Picture Soundtrack
46. LINDA RONSTADT AND ANN SAVOY-- Adieu False Heart
47. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- Futuresex/LoveSounds
48. PAUL SIMON -- Surprise
49. BEIRUT -- Gulag Orkestar
50. NELLIE MCKAY -- Pretty Little Head
51. ALEXI MURDOCH -- Time Without Consequences
(Click here for a complete breakdown on who these artists are and what I love about their albums.)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2005
1. SUFJAN STEVENS – Illinois (eclectic pop)
2a. KATE BUSH -- Aerial
2b. RICHARD SWIFT – The Richard Swift Collection, Volume One (literate pop)
3. THE EELS – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (suicidal pop)
4. AMADOU AND MARIAM – Dimanche a Bamako (world pop)
5. BETTYE LAVETTE – I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise
VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Believe To My Soul (soul)
6. THE WHITE STRIPES – Get Behind Me Satan (bluesy pop)
BRIGHT EYES – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (folkie pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Employment (righteous rock)
7. NEIL DIAMOND – 12 Songs (pop via Brill Building)
8. HANNA MCEUEN -- Hanna McEuen (country by way of Everly Brothers)
BRAD PAISLEY -- Time Well Wasted (radical traditionalist)
9. THE MAGIC NUMBERS – The Magic Numbers (60s pop via UK)
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Chaos and Creation In The Backyard (Beatles-esque, surprisingly)
10. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Does Anybody Know I’m Here? Vietnam Through The Eyes of Black America (protest pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970 Vol. Two
***
11. WOLF PARADE – Apologies to the Queen Mary
CLAP YOUR HANDS, SAY YEAH -- Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE -- Broken Social Scene
MARAH – If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry (return of Talking Heads)
12. BILL CHARLAP AND SANDY STEWART – Love Is Here To Stay (telepathic jazz duets)
13. LEWIS TAYLOR – Stoned (what Prince and Stevie Wonder used to be)
14. ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABATE – In The Heart Of The Moon (world music)
15. FIONA APPLE – Extraordinary Machine (pop, the hard way)
16. HEARTLESS BASTARDS – Stairs and Elevators (rock n roll)
17. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Son Cubano NYC: Cuban Roots, New York Spices 1972-82 (salsa)
2b. RICHARD SWIFT – The Richard Swift Collection, Volume One (literate pop)
3. THE EELS – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations (suicidal pop)
4. AMADOU AND MARIAM – Dimanche a Bamako (world pop)
5. BETTYE LAVETTE – I’ve Got My Own Hell To Raise
VARIOUS ARTISTS – I Believe To My Soul (soul)
6. THE WHITE STRIPES – Get Behind Me Satan (bluesy pop)
BRIGHT EYES – I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning (folkie pop)
KAISER CHIEFS -- Employment (righteous rock)
7. NEIL DIAMOND – 12 Songs (pop via Brill Building)
8. HANNA MCEUEN -- Hanna McEuen (country by way of Everly Brothers)
BRAD PAISLEY -- Time Well Wasted (radical traditionalist)
9. THE MAGIC NUMBERS – The Magic Numbers (60s pop via UK)
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Chaos and Creation In The Backyard (Beatles-esque, surprisingly)
10. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Does Anybody Know I’m Here? Vietnam Through The Eyes of Black America (protest pop)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970 Vol. Two
***
11. WOLF PARADE – Apologies to the Queen Mary
CLAP YOUR HANDS, SAY YEAH -- Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah
BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE -- Broken Social Scene
MARAH – If You Didn’t Laugh, You’d Cry (return of Talking Heads)
12. BILL CHARLAP AND SANDY STEWART – Love Is Here To Stay (telepathic jazz duets)
13. LEWIS TAYLOR – Stoned (what Prince and Stevie Wonder used to be)
14. ALI FARKA TOURE AND TOUMANI DIABATE – In The Heart Of The Moon (world music)
15. FIONA APPLE – Extraordinary Machine (pop, the hard way)
16. HEARTLESS BASTARDS – Stairs and Elevators (rock n roll)
17. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Son Cubano NYC: Cuban Roots, New York Spices 1972-82 (salsa)
18. LORETTA LYNN -- The Definitive Collection
19. HARD-FI – Stars Of CCTV (British rock)
20. NEIL YOUNG – Prairie Wind (folk rock staring death in the face and smiling)
21. SUPERGRASS – Road To Rouen (under-appreciated rock)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2004
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot
JOHNNY CASH -- My Mother's Hymn Book
kd lang -- Hymns Of The 49th Parallel
BRIAN WILSON -- Brian Wilson Presents Smile
AMADOU AND MARIAM -- Dimanche a Bamako
19. HARD-FI – Stars Of CCTV (British rock)
20. NEIL YOUNG – Prairie Wind (folk rock staring death in the face and smiling)
21. SUPERGRASS – Road To Rouen (under-appreciated rock)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2004
GREEN DAY -- American Idiot
JOHNNY CASH -- My Mother's Hymn Book
kd lang -- Hymns Of The 49th Parallel
BRIAN WILSON -- Brian Wilson Presents Smile
AMADOU AND MARIAM -- Dimanche a Bamako
MAX RICHTER -- The Blue Notebooks
A GIRL CALLED EDDY -- A Girl Called Eddy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970
NORAH JONES -- Feels Like Home
LEONARD COHEN -- Dear Heather
MORRISSEY -- You Are The Quarry
THE ROOTS -- The Tipping Point
LORETTA LYNNE -- Van Lear Rose
ANDY BEY -- American Song
THE STREETS -- A Grand Don't Come For Free
KONONO NO. 1 -- Congotronics
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- i
ELTON JOHN -- Peachtree Road
KANYE WEST -- College Dropout
WILCO -- A Ghost Is Born
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2003
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant
JOHNNY CASH -- Unearthed
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Want One
BOZ SCAGGS -- But Beautiful
OUTKAST -- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Avenue Q (Original Cast Recording)
AMY WINEHOUSE -- Frank
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Honeyburst
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Welcome Interstate Managers
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Stumble Into Grace
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Night Train To Nashville: Music City Rhythm And Blues 1945-1970
NORAH JONES -- Feels Like Home
LEONARD COHEN -- Dear Heather
MORRISSEY -- You Are The Quarry
THE ROOTS -- The Tipping Point
LORETTA LYNNE -- Van Lear Rose
ANDY BEY -- American Song
THE STREETS -- A Grand Don't Come For Free
KONONO NO. 1 -- Congotronics
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- i
ELTON JOHN -- Peachtree Road
KANYE WEST -- College Dropout
WILCO -- A Ghost Is Born
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2003
THE WHITE STRIPES -- Elephant
JOHNNY CASH -- Unearthed
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Want One
BOZ SCAGGS -- But Beautiful
OUTKAST -- Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Avenue Q (Original Cast Recording)
AMY WINEHOUSE -- Frank
TIM CHRISTENSEN -- Honeyburst
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Welcome Interstate Managers
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Stumble Into Grace
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Do It For Love
THE STROKES -- Room On Fire
THE JAYHAWKS -- Rainy Day Music
MARIA MCKEE -- High Dive
BRAD PAISLEY -- Mud On The Tires
JOE JACKSON -- Volume 4
ALICIA KEYS -- The Diary Of Alicia Keys
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Michigan
JUNE CARTER CASH -- Wildwood Flower
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2002
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me
WILCO -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Specialist In All Styles
BRIGHT EYES -- Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil Keep Your Ear To The Ground
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Music from The Singing Detective And More
BECK -- Sea Change
DIXIE CHICKS -- Home
LINDA THOMPSON -- Fashionably Late
SOLOMON BURKE -- Don't Give Up On Me
PETER WOLF -- Sleepless
JOHNNY CASH -- American IV: The Man Comes Around
EMINEM -- The Eminem Show
YOUSSOU N'DOUR -- Nothing's In Vain
RON SEXSMITH -- Cobblestone
TOM WAITS -- Alice/Blood Money
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III
DAMON ALBARN -- Mali Music
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS -- Rings Around The World
COLDPLAY -- A Rush of Blood To The Head
THE ROOTS -- Phrenology
LINDA LEWIS -- Reach For The Truth: Best Of The Reprise Years 1971-1974)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hairspray (Original Cast Recording)
THE VINES -- Highly Evolved
STEVE EARLE -- Jerusalem
THE STREETS -- Original Pirate Material
PHILIP GLASS -- The Hours
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Poses
WEEZER -- Maladroit
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2001
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza
RYAN ADAMS -- Gold
BOB DYLAN -- Love And Theft
THE STROKES -- Is This It?
kd lang and TONY BENNETT -- A Wonderful World
RADIOHEAD -- Amnesiac
LEONARD COHEN -- Ten New Songs
SUZANNE VEGA -- Songs In Red And Gray
DOLLY PARTON -- Little Sparrow
THE WHITE STRIPES -- White Blood Cells
DIANA KRALL -- The Look Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond
MERLE HAGGARD -- Roots
WEEZER -- Weezer (The Green Album)
RON SEXSMITH -- Blue Boy
GILLIAN WELCH -- Time (The Revelator)
ELTON JOHN -- Songs From The West Coast
NEIL DIAMOND -- Three Chord Opera
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 30
BEN FOLDS -- Rockin' The Suburbs
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2000
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP
RYAN ADAMS -- Heartbreaker
RADIOHEAD -- Kid A
JONI MITCHELL -- Both Sides Now
OUTKAST -- Stankonia
JOHNNY CASH -- American III: Solitary Man
THE BEATLES -- 1
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
SHELBY LYNNE -- I Am Shelby Lynne
D'ANGELO -- Voodoo
AIMEE MANN -- Bachelor No. 2
COREY HARRIS AND HENRY BUTLER -- Vu-Du Menz
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Wild Party (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
THE JAYHAWKS -- Smile
MERLE HAGGARD -- If I Could Only Fly
NEIL YOUNG -- Silver and Gold
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Kings Of The Gospel Highway: The Golden Age Of Gospel Quartets
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Teddy Thompson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1999
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder
LINDA RONSTADT AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Western Wall
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 69 Love Songs
MOBY -- Play
THE ROOTS -- Things Fall Apart
STEVE EARLE AND THE DEL MCCOURY BAND -- The Mountain
EMINEM -- The Slim Shady LP
JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio II
TOM WAITS -- Mule Varaiations
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Utopia Parkway
FIONA APPLE -- When The Pawn...
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Mock Tudor
DIXIE CHICKS -- Fly
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Bitter
WILCO -- Summerteeth
DOLLY PARTON -- The Grass is Blue
THE STROKES -- Room On Fire
THE JAYHAWKS -- Rainy Day Music
MARIA MCKEE -- High Dive
BRAD PAISLEY -- Mud On The Tires
JOE JACKSON -- Volume 4
ALICIA KEYS -- The Diary Of Alicia Keys
SUFJAN STEVENS -- Michigan
JUNE CARTER CASH -- Wildwood Flower
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2002
NORAH JONES -- Come Away With Me
WILCO -- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Specialist In All Styles
BRIGHT EYES -- Lifted or The Story Is In The Soil Keep Your Ear To The Ground
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Music from The Singing Detective And More
BECK -- Sea Change
DIXIE CHICKS -- Home
LINDA THOMPSON -- Fashionably Late
SOLOMON BURKE -- Don't Give Up On Me
PETER WOLF -- Sleepless
JOHNNY CASH -- American IV: The Man Comes Around
EMINEM -- The Eminem Show
YOUSSOU N'DOUR -- Nothing's In Vain
RON SEXSMITH -- Cobblestone
TOM WAITS -- Alice/Blood Money
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol. III
DAMON ALBARN -- Mali Music
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS -- Rings Around The World
COLDPLAY -- A Rush of Blood To The Head
THE ROOTS -- Phrenology
LINDA LEWIS -- Reach For The Truth: Best Of The Reprise Years 1971-1974)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hairspray (Original Cast Recording)
THE VINES -- Highly Evolved
STEVE EARLE -- Jerusalem
THE STREETS -- Original Pirate Material
PHILIP GLASS -- The Hours
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Poses
WEEZER -- Maladroit
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2001
MANU CHAO -- Proxima Estacion: Esperanza
RYAN ADAMS -- Gold
BOB DYLAN -- Love And Theft
THE STROKES -- Is This It?
kd lang and TONY BENNETT -- A Wonderful World
RADIOHEAD -- Amnesiac
LEONARD COHEN -- Ten New Songs
SUZANNE VEGA -- Songs In Red And Gray
DOLLY PARTON -- Little Sparrow
THE WHITE STRIPES -- White Blood Cells
DIANA KRALL -- The Look Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets II: Original Artyfacts From The British Empire And Beyond
MERLE HAGGARD -- Roots
WEEZER -- Weezer (The Green Album)
RON SEXSMITH -- Blue Boy
GILLIAN WELCH -- Time (The Revelator)
ELTON JOHN -- Songs From The West Coast
NEIL DIAMOND -- Three Chord Opera
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 30
BEN FOLDS -- Rockin' The Suburbs
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2000
EMINEM -- The Marshall Mathers LP
RYAN ADAMS -- Heartbreaker
RADIOHEAD -- Kid A
JONI MITCHELL -- Both Sides Now
OUTKAST -- Stankonia
JOHNNY CASH -- American III: Solitary Man
THE BEATLES -- 1
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- O Brother, Where Art Thou?
SHELBY LYNNE -- I Am Shelby Lynne
D'ANGELO -- Voodoo
AIMEE MANN -- Bachelor No. 2
COREY HARRIS AND HENRY BUTLER -- Vu-Du Menz
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue Vol. II
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Wild Party (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
THE JAYHAWKS -- Smile
MERLE HAGGARD -- If I Could Only Fly
NEIL YOUNG -- Silver and Gold
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Kings Of The Gospel Highway: The Golden Age Of Gospel Quartets
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Peace In The Valley: The Complete Gospel Recordings
TEDDY THOMPSON -- Teddy Thompson
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1999
DAVID GRAY -- White Ladder
LINDA RONSTADT AND EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Western Wall
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- 69 Love Songs
MOBY -- Play
THE ROOTS -- Things Fall Apart
STEVE EARLE AND THE DEL MCCOURY BAND -- The Mountain
EMINEM -- The Slim Shady LP
JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL -- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio II
TOM WAITS -- Mule Varaiations
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE -- Utopia Parkway
FIONA APPLE -- When The Pawn...
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Mock Tudor
DIXIE CHICKS -- Fly
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Bitter
WILCO -- Summerteeth
DOLLY PARTON -- The Grass is Blue
HANK SNOW -- The Essential Hank Snow
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1998
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue
LUCINDA WILLIAMS -- Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
THE BETA BAND -- The Three E.p.'s
BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hello Nasty
THE MAVERICKS -- Trampoline
OUTKAST -- Aquemini
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (boxed set)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Painted From Memory
DIXIE CHICKS -- Wide Open Spaces
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Rufus Wainwright
AIR -- Moon Safari
MANU CHAO -- Clandestino
DAVID GRAY -- Lost Songs 95-98
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES -- The Ultimate Collection
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- The Boy With The Arab Strap
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- The McGarrigle Hour
EVA CASSIDY -- Songbird
LAURYN HILL -- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1997
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer
BOB DYLAN -- Time Out Of Mind
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -- Buena Vista Social Club
DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Life After Death
SUPERGRASS -- In It For The Money
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beg, Scream and Shout! The Big Ol' Box of 60s Soul
WHISKEYTOWN -- Strangers Almanac
ALISON KRAUSS -- So Long So Wrong
RAY CHARLES -- Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection
ADAM GUETTEL -- Floyd Collins
NICK CAVE -- The Boatman's Call
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- Gospel Oak EP
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Legend
STEVE EARLE -- El Corazon
PREFAB SPROUT -- Andromeda Heights
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1998
BILLY BRAGG AND WILCO -- Mermaid Avenue
LUCINDA WILLIAMS -- Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
THE BETA BAND -- The Three E.p.'s
BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 4, Bob Dylan Live 1966, The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert
BEASTIE BOYS -- Hello Nasty
THE MAVERICKS -- Trampoline
OUTKAST -- Aquemini
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968 (boxed set)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Painted From Memory
DIXIE CHICKS -- Wide Open Spaces
RUFUS WAINWRIGHT -- Rufus Wainwright
AIR -- Moon Safari
MANU CHAO -- Clandestino
DAVID GRAY -- Lost Songs 95-98
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES -- The Ultimate Collection
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- The Boy With The Arab Strap
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- The McGarrigle Hour
EVA CASSIDY -- Songbird
LAURYN HILL -- The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1997
RADIOHEAD -- O.K. Computer
BOB DYLAN -- Time Out Of Mind
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -- Buena Vista Social Club
DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Life After Death
SUPERGRASS -- In It For The Money
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beg, Scream and Shout! The Big Ol' Box of 60s Soul
WHISKEYTOWN -- Strangers Almanac
ALISON KRAUSS -- So Long So Wrong
RAY CHARLES -- Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection
ADAM GUETTEL -- Floyd Collins
NICK CAVE -- The Boatman's Call
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- Gospel Oak EP
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Legend
STEVE EARLE -- El Corazon
PREFAB SPROUT -- Andromeda Heights
JEFFREY FOSKETT -- Cool and Gone (Gone Gone)
VAN MORRISON -- The Healing Game
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1996
BECK -- Odelay
RADIOHEAD -- The Bends
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire
WILCO -- Being There
JOHNNY CASH -- Unchained
WEEZER -- Pinkerton
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- Tigermilk/If You're Feeling Sinister
NICK CAVE -- Murder Ballads
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Matapedia
STEVE EARLE -- I Feel Alright
MARIA MCKEE -- Life Is Sweet
PHILIP GLASS -- The Secret Agent
MAXWELL -- Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Walking Wounded
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box II
THE BLUE NILE -- Peace At Last
THE FUGEES -- The Score
BOZ SCAGGS -- Fade Into Light
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1995
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
PJ HARVEY -- To Bring You My Love
OASIS -- (What's The Story) Morning Glory
THE JAYHAWKS -- Tomorrow The Green Grass
BLUR -- The Great Escape
D'ANGELO -- Brown Sugar
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Two/The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Three: Freedom Fire
JOHNNY ADAMS -- The Verdict
VAN MORRISON -- The Healing Game
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1996
BECK -- Odelay
RADIOHEAD -- The Bends
SUZANNE VEGA -- Nine Objects Of Desire
WILCO -- Being There
JOHNNY CASH -- Unchained
WEEZER -- Pinkerton
BELLE AND SEBASTIAN -- Tigermilk/If You're Feeling Sinister
NICK CAVE -- Murder Ballads
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Matapedia
STEVE EARLE -- I Feel Alright
MARIA MCKEE -- Life Is Sweet
PHILIP GLASS -- The Secret Agent
MAXWELL -- Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Walking Wounded
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box II
THE BLUE NILE -- Peace At Last
THE FUGEES -- The Score
BOZ SCAGGS -- Fade Into Light
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1995
THE MAVERICKS -- Music For All Occasions
ALISON KRAUSS -- Now That I've Found You: A Collection
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Walk A Mile In My Shoes: The Essential '70s Masters
PJ HARVEY -- To Bring You My Love
OASIS -- (What's The Story) Morning Glory
THE JAYHAWKS -- Tomorrow The Green Grass
BLUR -- The Great Escape
D'ANGELO -- Brown Sugar
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Thunder Before Dawn: The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Two/The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume Three: Freedom Fire
JOHNNY ADAMS -- The Verdict
RON SEXSMITH -- Ron Sexsmith
BJORK -- Post
STEVE EARLE -- Train A Comin'
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Wreckin' Ball
CHRIS ISAAK -- Forever Blue
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On
ALANIS MORISSETTE -- Jagged Little Pill
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Gone
CASSANDRA WILSON -- New Moon Daughter
PAUL WELLER -- Stanley Road
SUPERGRASS -- I Should Coco
AIMEE MANN -- I'm With Stupid
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH -- Carry On...Up The Charts
DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
MANDY PATINKIN -- Oscar and Steve
AL STEWART -- Between The Wars
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Young Blood
THE 6THS -- Wasps' Nests
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1994
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings
NAS -- Illmatic
GREEN DAY -- Dookie
NIRVANA -- Unplugged In New York
THE MAVERICKS -- What A Crying Shame
BLUR -- Parklife
HOLE -- Live Through This
BEASTIE BOYS -- Ill Communication
OASIS -- Definitely Maybe
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BOZ SCAGGS -- Some Change
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box
BECK -- Mellow Gold/One Foot In The Grave
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Still On The Road
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE -- Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious Five
MORRISSEY -- Vauxhall And I
JUDY GARLAND -- The Complete Decca Masters
STEVE EARLE -- Train A Comin'
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Wreckin' Ball
CHRIS ISAAK -- Forever Blue
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Natural Mystic: The Legend Lives On
ALANIS MORISSETTE -- Jagged Little Pill
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Gone
CASSANDRA WILSON -- New Moon Daughter
PAUL WELLER -- Stanley Road
SUPERGRASS -- I Should Coco
AIMEE MANN -- I'm With Stupid
THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH -- Carry On...Up The Charts
DOLLY PARTON -- The Essential Dolly Parton, Vol. 2
MANDY PATINKIN -- Oscar and Steve
AL STEWART -- Between The Wars
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Young Blood
THE 6THS -- Wasps' Nests
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1994
JOHNNY CASH -- American Recordings
NAS -- Illmatic
GREEN DAY -- Dookie
NIRVANA -- Unplugged In New York
THE MAVERICKS -- What A Crying Shame
BLUR -- Parklife
HOLE -- Live Through This
BEASTIE BOYS -- Ill Communication
OASIS -- Definitely Maybe
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BOZ SCAGGS -- Some Change
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Doo Wop Box
BECK -- Mellow Gold/One Foot In The Grave
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Still On The Road
GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE -- Message From Beat Street: The Best Of Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel and the Furious Five
MORRISSEY -- Vauxhall And I
JUDY GARLAND -- The Complete Decca Masters
THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. -- Ready To Die
PEARL JAM -- Vitalogy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Passion (Original Cast Recording)
JEFF BUCKLEY -- Grace
WEEZER -- Weezer
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Amplified Heart
IRIS DEMENT -- My Life
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Always Say Goodbye
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- The Charm Of The Highway Strip
ERIC DOLPHY -- Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music
JONI MITCHELL -- Turbulent Indigo
TONY BENNETT -- MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett
SOUNDGARDEN -- Superunknown
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1993
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- This Time
AIMEE MANN -- Whatever
PEARL JAM -- Vs.
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Plantation Lullabies
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Do You Miss New York?
CHRIS ISAAK -- San Francisco Days
ARVO PART -- Te Deum
ELVIS PRESLEY -- From Nashville To Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
PEARL JAM -- Vitalogy
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Passion (Original Cast Recording)
JEFF BUCKLEY -- Grace
WEEZER -- Weezer
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Amplified Heart
IRIS DEMENT -- My Life
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Always Say Goodbye
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS -- The Charm Of The Highway Strip
ERIC DOLPHY -- Space-Age Bachelor Pad Music
JONI MITCHELL -- Turbulent Indigo
TONY BENNETT -- MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett
SOUNDGARDEN -- Superunknown
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1993
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Light 'Til Dawn
DWIGHT YOAKAM -- This Time
AIMEE MANN -- Whatever
PEARL JAM -- Vs.
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO -- Plantation Lullabies
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Do You Miss New York?
CHRIS ISAAK -- San Francisco Days
ARVO PART -- Te Deum
ELVIS PRESLEY -- From Nashville To Memphis: The Essential '60s Masters
TOM PETTY -- Greatest Hits
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- Spinning Around The Sun
NIRVANA -- In Utero
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love (compilation, not soundtrack)
PET SHOP BOYS -- Very
WU-TANG CLAN -- Enter The Wu-Tang
SHELBY LYNNE -- Temptation
TOM WAITS -- The Black Rider
TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY -- Symphony Or Damn
ZAP MAMA -- Adventures In Afropea
TONY BENNETT -- Steppin' Out
BOB DYLAN -- World Gone Wrong
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Juliet Letters
JELLYFISH -- Spilt Milk
COUNTING CROWS -- August And Everything After
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Gospel Men: 27 Classic Performances
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1992
kd lang -- Ingenue
R.E.M. -- Automatic For The People
ABBA -- Gold
LOS LOBOS -- Kiko
THE JAYHAWKS -- Hollywood Town Hall
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The King Of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete '50s Masters
MORRISSEY -- Your Arsenal
LYLE LOVETT -- Joshua Judges Ruth
JELLYFISH -- Bellybutton
TOM WAITS -- Bone Machine
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Haunted Heart
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest Moon
DR. DRE -- The Chronic
ERIC CLAPTON -- Unplugged
HENRYK GORECKI -- Symphony No. 3
ANNIE LENNOX -- Diva
LEONARD COHEN -- The Future
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Acoustic
BOB DYLAN -- Good As I Been To You
SHIRLEY HORN -- Here's To Life
TONY BENNETT -- Perfectly Frank
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Out Of The Cradle
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT -- 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of...
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 25
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1991
NIRVANA -- Nevermind
U2 -- Achtung Baby
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Rumor And Sigh
RAY CHARLES -- The Birth of Soul (boxed set)
SHIRLEY HORN -- You Won't Forget Me
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- Spinning Around The Sun
NIRVANA -- In Utero
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Mambo Kings Play Songs Of Love (compilation, not soundtrack)
PET SHOP BOYS -- Very
WU-TANG CLAN -- Enter The Wu-Tang
SHELBY LYNNE -- Temptation
TOM WAITS -- The Black Rider
TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY -- Symphony Or Damn
ZAP MAMA -- Adventures In Afropea
TONY BENNETT -- Steppin' Out
BOB DYLAN -- World Gone Wrong
ELVIS COSTELLO -- The Juliet Letters
JELLYFISH -- Spilt Milk
COUNTING CROWS -- August And Everything After
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Great Gospel Men: 27 Classic Performances
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1992
kd lang -- Ingenue
R.E.M. -- Automatic For The People
ABBA -- Gold
LOS LOBOS -- Kiko
THE JAYHAWKS -- Hollywood Town Hall
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The King Of Rock 'n' Roll: The Complete '50s Masters
MORRISSEY -- Your Arsenal
LYLE LOVETT -- Joshua Judges Ruth
JELLYFISH -- Bellybutton
TOM WAITS -- Bone Machine
CHARLIE HADEN QUARTET WEST -- Haunted Heart
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest Moon
DR. DRE -- The Chronic
ERIC CLAPTON -- Unplugged
HENRYK GORECKI -- Symphony No. 3
ANNIE LENNOX -- Diva
LEONARD COHEN -- The Future
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Acoustic
BOB DYLAN -- Good As I Been To You
SHIRLEY HORN -- Here's To Life
TONY BENNETT -- Perfectly Frank
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Out Of The Cradle
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT -- 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days In The Life Of...
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 25
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1991
NIRVANA -- Nevermind
U2 -- Achtung Baby
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Rumor And Sigh
RAY CHARLES -- The Birth of Soul (boxed set)
SHIRLEY HORN -- You Won't Forget Me
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
PEARL JAM -- Ten
PEARL JAM -- Ten
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Sings Doc Pomus
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beauty and the Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CROWDED HOUSE -- Woodface
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- After Awhile
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Beauty and the Beast Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
CROWDED HOUSE -- Woodface
JIMMIE DALE GILMORE -- After Awhile
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
BARBRA STREISAND -- Just For The Record... (boxed set)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM -- Assassins Original Cast Recording
ARVO PART -- Miserere
BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased)
COLE PORTER/EVANS HAILE -- Fifty Million Frenchmen
BARBRA STREISAND -- Just For The Record... (boxed set)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM -- Assassins Original Cast Recording
ARVO PART -- Miserere
BOB DYLAN -- The Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 (Rare and Unreleased)
COLE PORTER/EVANS HAILE -- Fifty Million Frenchmen
JOHN PRINE -- The Missing Years
ABBEY LINCOLN -- You Gotta Pay The Band
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1990
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection
HAPPY MONDAYS -- Pills And Thrills And Bellyaches
PREFAB SPROUT -- Jordan: The Comeback
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Fear Of A Black Planet
ROSEANNE CASH -- Interiors
SUZANNE VEGA -- Days Of Open Hand
MUDDY WATERS -- The Chess Box
THE LA'S -- The La's
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Songs That Got Us Through WWII
THE GO-GO'S -- Greatest Hits
PET SHOP BOYS -- Behavior
WORLD PARTY -- Goodbye Jumbo
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Caution Horses
MORRISSEY -- Bona Drag
THE FOUR TOPS -- Anthology
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Heartbeats Accelerating
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
MARION WILLIAMS -- Surely God Is Able
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Change Of Season
CARL STALLING -- The Carl Stalling Project, Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- The Language Of Life
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Atlantic Soul Classics
TONY BENNETT -- Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist
EVANS HAILE/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Babes In Arms
BRIAN ENO AND JOHN CALE -- Wrong Way Up
NEIL YOUNG -- Ragged Glory
ABBEY LINCOLN -- You Gotta Pay The Band
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1990
MADONNA -- The Immaculate Collection
HAPPY MONDAYS -- Pills And Thrills And Bellyaches
PREFAB SPROUT -- Jordan: The Comeback
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Fear Of A Black Planet
ROSEANNE CASH -- Interiors
SUZANNE VEGA -- Days Of Open Hand
MUDDY WATERS -- The Chess Box
THE LA'S -- The La's
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Songs That Got Us Through WWII
THE GO-GO'S -- Greatest Hits
PET SHOP BOYS -- Behavior
WORLD PARTY -- Goodbye Jumbo
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Caution Horses
MORRISSEY -- Bona Drag
THE FOUR TOPS -- Anthology
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Heartbeats Accelerating
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1
MARION WILLIAMS -- Surely God Is Able
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES -- Change Of Season
CARL STALLING -- The Carl Stalling Project, Music From Warner Bros. Cartoons 1936-1958
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- The Language Of Life
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Atlantic Soul Classics
TONY BENNETT -- Astoria: Portrait Of The Artist
EVANS HAILE/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Babes In Arms
BRIAN ENO AND JOHN CALE -- Wrong Way Up
NEIL YOUNG -- Ragged Glory
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Best Of The Girl Groups Vol. 1 and 2
PEGGY LEE -- The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- We Are In Love
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1989
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique
THE BLUE NILE -- Hats
CHET BAKER -- Best Of Chet Baker Plays and Sings
THE STONE ROSES -- The Stone Roses
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Pirates Choice
BOB DYLAN -- Oh Mercy
PEGGY LEE -- The Peggy Lee Songbook: There'll Be Another Spring
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- We Are In Love
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1989
BEASTIE BOYS -- Paul's Boutique
THE BLUE NILE -- Hats
CHET BAKER -- Best Of Chet Baker Plays and Sings
THE STONE ROSES -- The Stone Roses
ORCHESTRA BAOBAB -- Pirates Choice
BOB DYLAN -- Oh Mercy
KATE BUSH -- The Sensual World
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume Two
DAWN UPSHAW -- Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Done By The Forces of Nature
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Strange Angels
DE LA SOUL -- 3 Feet High And Rising
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical Compiled By David Byrne
kd lang -- Absolute Torch And Twang
PAUL SIMON -- The Rhythm Of The Saints
DIONNE WARWICK -- The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits (Rhino)
FRANK MORGAN -- Easy Living/Mood Indigo
MARIA MCKEE -- Maria McKee
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black and Blue (Original Cast Recording)
LOU REED -- New York
PETER GABRIEL -- Passion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Crossroads
MANDY PATINKIN -- Mandy Patinkin
MADONNA -- Like A Prayer
BONNIE RAITT -- Nick Of Time
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- When Harry Met Sally
LYLE LOVETT -- Lyle Lovett And His Large Band
DURAN DURAN -- Decade
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken Volume Two
DAWN UPSHAW -- Knoxville: Summer Of 1915
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Done By The Forces of Nature
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Strange Angels
DE LA SOUL -- 3 Feet High And Rising
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Brazil Classics 1: Beleza Tropical Compiled By David Byrne
kd lang -- Absolute Torch And Twang
PAUL SIMON -- The Rhythm Of The Saints
DIONNE WARWICK -- The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits (Rhino)
FRANK MORGAN -- Easy Living/Mood Indigo
MARIA MCKEE -- Maria McKee
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Black and Blue (Original Cast Recording)
LOU REED -- New York
PETER GABRIEL -- Passion: Music For The Last Temptation Of Christ
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Crossroads
MANDY PATINKIN -- Mandy Patinkin
MADONNA -- Like A Prayer
BONNIE RAITT -- Nick Of Time
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- When Harry Met Sally
LYLE LOVETT -- Lyle Lovett And His Large Band
DURAN DURAN -- Decade
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Walking On A Tightrope: The Songs Of Percy Mayfield
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Flying Cowboys
DJIVAN GASPARYAN -- I Will Not Be Sad in This World
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Flying Cowboys
DJIVAN GASPARYAN -- I Will Not Be Sad in This World
CLINT BLACK -- Killin' Time
TOM PETTY -- Full Moon Fever
SOUL II SOUL -- Keep On Movin'
DAVID BYRNE -- Rei Momo
THE PIXIES -- Doolittle
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Yellow Moon
NEIL YOUNG -- Freedom
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Spike
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1988
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
kd lang -- Shadowland
U2 -- Rattle and Hum
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Trinity Sessions
HAL WILLNER/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films
PEGGY LEE -- Miss Peggy Lee Sings The Blues
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Idlewild
THE POGUES -- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
LEONARD COHEN -- I'm Your Man
MORRISSEY -- Viva Hate
CHUCK BERRY -- The Chess Box
SADE -- Stronger Than Pride
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Straight Out The Jungle
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room
FRANKIE VALLIE AND THE FOUR SEASONS -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 25th Anniversary Collection
CARMEN MCRAE -- Carmen Sings Monk
JOHN HIATT -- Slow Turning
SHIRLEY HORN -- Close Enough For Love
STEVE EARLE -- Copperhead Road
N.W.A. -- Straight Outta Compton
ARVO PART -- Passio
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Skies
PHILIP GLASS -- The Thin Blue Line
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Tracy Chapman
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Irving Berlin Always
RODNEY CROWELL -- Diamonds and Dirt
TRAVELING WILBURYS -- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
ERIC B. AND RAKIM -- Paid In Full
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 20
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
PREFAB SPROUT -- From Langley Park To Memphis
CHRIS ISAAK -- Heart-Shaped World
TALK TALK -- Spirit Of Eden
SOUL II SOUL -- Keep On Movin'
DAVID BYRNE -- Rei Momo
THE PIXIES -- Doolittle
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Yellow Moon
NEIL YOUNG -- Freedom
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Spike
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1988
PUBLIC ENEMY -- It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back
kd lang -- Shadowland
U2 -- Rattle and Hum
COWBOY JUNKIES -- The Trinity Sessions
HAL WILLNER/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Stay Awake: Various Interpretations of Music From Vintage Disney Films
PEGGY LEE -- Miss Peggy Lee Sings The Blues
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Idlewild
THE POGUES -- If I Should Fall From Grace With God
LEONARD COHEN -- I'm Your Man
MORRISSEY -- Viva Hate
CHUCK BERRY -- The Chess Box
SADE -- Stronger Than Pride
JUNGLE BROTHERS -- Straight Out The Jungle
DWIGHT YOAKUM -- Buenos Noches From A Lonely Room
FRANKIE VALLIE AND THE FOUR SEASONS -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons 25th Anniversary Collection
CARMEN MCRAE -- Carmen Sings Monk
JOHN HIATT -- Slow Turning
SHIRLEY HORN -- Close Enough For Love
STEVE EARLE -- Copperhead Road
N.W.A. -- Straight Outta Compton
ARVO PART -- Passio
CASSANDRA WILSON -- Blue Skies
PHILIP GLASS -- The Thin Blue Line
TRACY CHAPMAN -- Tracy Chapman
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Irving Berlin Always
RODNEY CROWELL -- Diamonds and Dirt
TRAVELING WILBURYS -- Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1
ERIC B. AND RAKIM -- Paid In Full
HARRY CONNICK JR. -- 20
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
PREFAB SPROUT -- From Langley Park To Memphis
CHRIS ISAAK -- Heart-Shaped World
TALK TALK -- Spirit Of Eden
JOHNNY ADAMS -- Room With A View Of The Blues
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS -- People
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Flowers In The Dirt
VAN MORRISON and THE CHIEFTAINS -- Irish Heartbeat
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Amnesia
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Some Hearts
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Journey Of Dreams
FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION -- The First Of A Million Kisses
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1987
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio
U2 -- The Joshua Tree
PRINCE -- Sign O' The Times
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- The Lion and the Cobra
THE SMITHS -- Louder Than Bombs/Strangeways, Here We Come
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Faith
ERIC B AND RAKIM -- Paid In Full
STING -- ...Nothing Like The Sun
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Pleased To Meet Me
JENNIFER WARNES -- Famous Blue Raincoat
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- The Lonesome Jubilee
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Yo! Bum Rush The Show
CHARLIE HADEN-- Quartet West
HÜSKER DÜ -- Warehouse: Songs and Stories
JOHN HIATT -- Bring The Family
SHIRLEY HORN -- I Thought About You
JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB II
LINDA RONSTADT -- Canciones De Mi Padre
GUNS N' ROSES -- Appetite For Destruction
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Tunnel Of Love
SUZANNE VEGA -- Solitude Standing
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Into The Woods (Original Cast Recording)
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
ROSEANNE CASH -- King's Record Shop
R.E.M. -- Document
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
PET SHOP BOYS -- Actually
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Shaka Zulu
MEL TORME AND GEORGE SHEARING -- A Vintage Year
DEF LEPPARD -- Hysteria
10,000 MANIACS -- In My Tribe
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Bad
BOBBY SHORT -- Guess Who's In Town: Bobby Short Sings The Songs Of Andy Razaf
BILLY IDOL -- Vital Idol
kd lang -- Angel With A Lariat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1986
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland
THE SMITHS -- The Queen Is Dead
ELVIS COSTELLO -- King Of America/Blood and Chocolate
PRINCE -- Parade
R.E.M. -- Life's Rich Pageant
RUN D.M.C. -- Raising Hell
BEASTIE BOYS -- Licensed To Ill
LINDA RONSTADT -- For Sentimental Reasons
CHRIS ISAAK -- Chris Isaak
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Live 1975-1985
PETER GABRIEL -- So
MADONNA -- True Blue
SAM COOKE -- The Man And His Music
TALK TALK -- The Color Of Spring
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Daring Adventures
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Born Yesterday
'TIL TUESDAY -- Welcome Home
WHAM! -- The Final
HOTHOUSE FLOWERS -- People
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Flowers In The Dirt
VAN MORRISON and THE CHIEFTAINS -- Irish Heartbeat
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Amnesia
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Some Hearts
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Journey Of Dreams
FAIRGROUND ATTRACTION -- The First Of A Million Kisses
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1987
DOLLY PARTON, LINDA RONSTADT, EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Trio
U2 -- The Joshua Tree
PRINCE -- Sign O' The Times
SINEAD O'CONNOR -- The Lion and the Cobra
THE SMITHS -- Louder Than Bombs/Strangeways, Here We Come
GEORGE MICHAEL -- Faith
ERIC B AND RAKIM -- Paid In Full
STING -- ...Nothing Like The Sun
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Pleased To Meet Me
JENNIFER WARNES -- Famous Blue Raincoat
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- The Lonesome Jubilee
PUBLIC ENEMY -- Yo! Bum Rush The Show
CHARLIE HADEN-- Quartet West
HÜSKER DÜ -- Warehouse: Songs and Stories
JOHN HIATT -- Bring The Family
SHIRLEY HORN -- I Thought About You
JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB II
LINDA RONSTADT -- Canciones De Mi Padre
GUNS N' ROSES -- Appetite For Destruction
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Tunnel Of Love
SUZANNE VEGA -- Solitude Standing
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Into The Woods (Original Cast Recording)
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams: The Greatest Hits
LYLE LOVETT -- Pontiac
ROSEANNE CASH -- King's Record Shop
R.E.M. -- Document
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
PET SHOP BOYS -- Actually
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO -- Shaka Zulu
MEL TORME AND GEORGE SHEARING -- A Vintage Year
DEF LEPPARD -- Hysteria
10,000 MANIACS -- In My Tribe
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Bad
BOBBY SHORT -- Guess Who's In Town: Bobby Short Sings The Songs Of Andy Razaf
BILLY IDOL -- Vital Idol
kd lang -- Angel With A Lariat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1986
PAUL SIMON -- Graceland
THE SMITHS -- The Queen Is Dead
ELVIS COSTELLO -- King Of America/Blood and Chocolate
PRINCE -- Parade
R.E.M. -- Life's Rich Pageant
RUN D.M.C. -- Raising Hell
BEASTIE BOYS -- Licensed To Ill
LINDA RONSTADT -- For Sentimental Reasons
CHRIS ISAAK -- Chris Isaak
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Live 1975-1985
PETER GABRIEL -- So
MADONNA -- True Blue
SAM COOKE -- The Man And His Music
TALK TALK -- The Color Of Spring
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Daring Adventures
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Born Yesterday
'TIL TUESDAY -- Welcome Home
WHAM! -- The Final
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Easy Living (w Joe Pass)
RANDY TRAVIS -- Storms Of Life
DAVID AND DAVID -- Welcome To The Boomtown
STING -- Bring On The Night
XTC -- Skylarking
STEVE EARLE -- Guitar Town
WORLD PARTY -- Private Revolution
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Lonely Avenue
STEVE WINWOOD -- Back In The High Life
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1985
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (tie)
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album (tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Les Miserables (Original London Cast Recording)
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- It's The Talk Of The Town (and Other Sad Songs)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Gospel At Colonus (1985 Philadelphia Cast)
JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB
PAUL MCCARTNEY/ELVIS COSTELLO -- Flowers In The Dirt (Demos on later editions)
TOM WAITS -- Rain Dogs
STEELY DAN -- A Decade Of Steely Dan
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Scarecrow
KATRINA AND THE WAVES -- Katrina and the Waves
PHILIP GLASS -- Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters
CHRIS ISAAK -- Silvertone
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Cadence Classics: Their 20 Greatest Hits
BOB DYLAN -- Biograph
R.E.M. -- Fables Of The Reconstruction
THE POGUES -- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
SADE -- Promise
SANDY DENNY -- Who Knows Where The Times Goes (boxed set)
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim
U2 -- Wide Awake In America
EURYTHMICS -- Be Yourself Tonight
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- 30 Greatest Hits
THE WATERBOYS -- This Is The Sea
JIMMY BUFFETT -- Songs You Know By Heart
LINDA THOMPSON -- One Clear Moment
STING -- Dream Of The Blue Turtles
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Across A Crowded Room
LONE JUSTICE -- Lone Justice
JOHN FOGERTY -- Centerfield
DIRE STRAITS -- Brothers In Arms
BRYAN FERRY -- Boys And Girls
SUZANNE VEGA -- Suzanne Vega
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1984
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Legend
THE SMITHS -- The Smiths
PRINCE -- Purple Rain
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born In The USA
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Mister Heartbreak/United States Live
MADNESS -- Keep Moving (US 14 track version)
SADE -- Diamond Life
RUN D.M.C. -- Run D.M.C.
TINA TURNER -- Private Dancer
THE BLUE NILE -- A Walk Across The Rooftops
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- 20 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performance
THE PRETENDERS -- Learning To Crawl
LEONARD COHEN -- Various Positions
LOS LOBOS -- How Will The Wolf Survive?
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Eden
TALKING HEADS -- Stop Making Sense
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Let It Be
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- EB84
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in the Park with George (Original Cast Recording)
STING -- Bring On The Night
XTC -- Skylarking
STEVE EARLE -- Guitar Town
WORLD PARTY -- Private Revolution
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- Lonely Avenue
STEVE WINWOOD -- Back In The High Life
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1985
PREFAB SPROUT -- Steve McQueen aka Two Wheels Good (tie)
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Broadway Album (tie)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Indestructible Beat Of Soweto Volume One
KATE BUSH -- Hounds Of Love
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Les Miserables (Original London Cast Recording)
BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS -- It's The Talk Of The Town (and Other Sad Songs)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Gospel At Colonus (1985 Philadelphia Cast)
JAMES BROWN -- The CD of JB
PAUL MCCARTNEY/ELVIS COSTELLO -- Flowers In The Dirt (Demos on later editions)
TOM WAITS -- Rain Dogs
STEELY DAN -- A Decade Of Steely Dan
JOHN MELLENCAMP -- Scarecrow
KATRINA AND THE WAVES -- Katrina and the Waves
PHILIP GLASS -- Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters
CHRIS ISAAK -- Silvertone
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Cadence Classics: Their 20 Greatest Hits
BOB DYLAN -- Biograph
R.E.M. -- Fables Of The Reconstruction
THE POGUES -- Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
SADE -- Promise
SANDY DENNY -- Who Knows Where The Times Goes (boxed set)
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Tim
U2 -- Wide Awake In America
EURYTHMICS -- Be Yourself Tonight
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- 30 Greatest Hits
THE WATERBOYS -- This Is The Sea
JIMMY BUFFETT -- Songs You Know By Heart
LINDA THOMPSON -- One Clear Moment
STING -- Dream Of The Blue Turtles
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Across A Crowded Room
LONE JUSTICE -- Lone Justice
JOHN FOGERTY -- Centerfield
DIRE STRAITS -- Brothers In Arms
BRYAN FERRY -- Boys And Girls
SUZANNE VEGA -- Suzanne Vega
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1984
U2 -- The Unforgettable Fire
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Legend
THE SMITHS -- The Smiths
PRINCE -- Purple Rain
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born In The USA
LAURIE ANDERSON -- Mister Heartbreak/United States Live
MADNESS -- Keep Moving (US 14 track version)
SADE -- Diamond Life
RUN D.M.C. -- Run D.M.C.
TINA TURNER -- Private Dancer
THE BLUE NILE -- A Walk Across The Rooftops
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- 20 Greatest Hits: Compact Command Performance
THE PRETENDERS -- Learning To Crawl
LEONARD COHEN -- Various Positions
LOS LOBOS -- How Will The Wolf Survive?
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL -- Eden
TALKING HEADS -- Stop Making Sense
THE REPLACEMENTS -- Let It Be
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- 18 Original Sun Greatest Hits
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- EB84
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sunday in the Park with George (Original Cast Recording)
THE BANGLES -- All Over The Place
JOE JACKSON -- Body and Soul
PREFAB SPROUT -- Swoon
R.E.M. -- Reckoning
JOE JACKSON -- Body and Soul
PREFAB SPROUT -- Swoon
R.E.M. -- Reckoning
LINDA RONSTADT -- Lush Life
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS -- Rattlesnakes
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Live!
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Jump!
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Small Town Romance
BARRY MANILOW -- 2. A.M. Paradise Cafe
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Go Insane
BRIAN ENO AND HAROLD BUDD -- The Pearl
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1983
R.E.M. -- Murmur
U2 -- War/Under A Blood Red Sky
BILLY JOEL -- An Innocent Man
LLOYD COLE AND THE COMMOTIONS -- Rattlesnakes
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Live!
VAN DYKE PARKS -- Jump!
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Small Town Romance
BARRY MANILOW -- 2. A.M. Paradise Cafe
LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM -- Go Insane
BRIAN ENO AND HAROLD BUDD -- The Pearl
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1983
R.E.M. -- Murmur
U2 -- War/Under A Blood Red Sky
BILLY JOEL -- An Innocent Man
EURYTHMICS -- Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)/Touch
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Big Chill Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- What Is Beat?
TOM WAITS -- Swordfishtrombones
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Say Amen, Somebody (Original Soundtrack)
TALKING HEADS -- Speaking In Tongues
PHILIP GLASS -- Akhnaten
HALL AND OATES -- Rock And Soul Part 1: Greatest Hits
MADNESS -- Madness (US compilation)
THE POLICE -- Synchronicity
DEF LEPPARD -- Pyromania
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Hand Of Kindness
PAUL SIMON -- Hearts and Bones
CHEAP TRICK -- Next Position, Please (The Authorized Version)
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Big Chill Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- What Is Beat?
TOM WAITS -- Swordfishtrombones
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Say Amen, Somebody (Original Soundtrack)
TALKING HEADS -- Speaking In Tongues
PHILIP GLASS -- Akhnaten
HALL AND OATES -- Rock And Soul Part 1: Greatest Hits
MADNESS -- Madness (US compilation)
THE POLICE -- Synchronicity
DEF LEPPARD -- Pyromania
RICHARD THOMPSON -- Hand Of Kindness
PAUL SIMON -- Hearts and Bones
CHEAP TRICK -- Next Position, Please (The Authorized Version)
CULTURE CLUB -- Colour By Numbers
BRYAN FERRY -- These Foolish Things
WILLIE NELSON AND MERLE HAGGARD -- Pancho and Lefty
BOB DYLAN -- Infidels
CYNDI LAUPER -- She's So Unusual
PINK FLOYD -- The Final Cut
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1982
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska
BRYAN FERRY -- These Foolish Things
WILLIE NELSON AND MERLE HAGGARD -- Pancho and Lefty
BOB DYLAN -- Infidels
CYNDI LAUPER -- She's So Unusual
PINK FLOYD -- The Final Cut
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1982
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Nebraska
PHILIP GLASS -- Glassworks/Koyaanisqatsi
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Shoot Out The Lights
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Shoot Out The Lights
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Thriller
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Imperial Bedroom
ROXY MUSIC -- Avalon
DONALD FAGEN -- The Nightfly
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Tug Of War
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Imperial Bedroom
ROXY MUSIC -- Avalon
DONALD FAGEN -- The Nightfly
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Tug Of War
JAMES BOOKER -- Classified
BILLY JOEL -- The Nylon Curtain
VANGELIS -- Blade Runner
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (Security)
GEORGE WINSTON -- December
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Dreamgirls (Original Broadway Cast Album)
STEVIE WONDER -- Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
ABC -- The Lexicon Of Love
THE EAGLES -- Eagles Greatest Hits Vol. 2
PRINCE -- 1999
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Special Beat Service
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
KING SUNNY ADE -- Juju Music
TOM WAITS -- One From The Heart
JOE JACKSON -- Night and Day
SQUEEZE -- Singles: 45's And Under
LYDIA MENDOZA -- La Alondra de la Frontera: Live!
TOM PETTY -- Long After Dark
DURAN DURAN -- Rio
DIRE STRAITS -- Love Over Gold
R.E.M. -- Chronic Town
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1981
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Wha'ppen?
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll
SQUEEZE -- East Side Story
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1979
THE CLASH -- London Calling
TALKING HEADS -- Fear of Music
VAN MORRISON -- Into The Music
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Off The Wall
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1959
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
BUDDY HOLLY -- The Buddy Holly Story
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1950
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
FRANK SINATRA -- Dedicated To You/Swing and Dance With Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas
BILLY JOEL -- The Nylon Curtain
VANGELIS -- Blade Runner
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (Security)
GEORGE WINSTON -- December
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Dreamgirls (Original Broadway Cast Album)
STEVIE WONDER -- Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I
ABC -- The Lexicon Of Love
THE EAGLES -- Eagles Greatest Hits Vol. 2
PRINCE -- 1999
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Special Beat Service
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
KING SUNNY ADE -- Juju Music
TOM WAITS -- One From The Heart
JOE JACKSON -- Night and Day
SQUEEZE -- Singles: 45's And Under
LYDIA MENDOZA -- La Alondra de la Frontera: Live!
TOM PETTY -- Long After Dark
DURAN DURAN -- Rio
DIRE STRAITS -- Love Over Gold
R.E.M. -- Chronic Town
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1981
QUEEN -- Greatest Hits
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- Wha'ppen?
JOAN JETT -- Bad Reputation/I Love Rock 'n' Roll
SQUEEZE -- East Side Story
BRIAN ENO AND DAVID BYRNE -- My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts
FRANK SINATRA -- She Shot Me Down
RUSH -- Moving Pictures
ROLLING STONES -- Tattoo You
BLONDIE -- Best Of Blondie
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Trust/Almost Blue
RUSH -- Moving Pictures
ROLLING STONES -- Tattoo You
BLONDIE -- Best Of Blondie
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Trust/Almost Blue
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
LENA HORNE -- Lena Horne: The Lady And Her Music
TOM PETTY -- Hard Promises
WILLIE NELSON -- Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be)
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Fiyou On The Bayou
TOM PETTY -- Hard Promises
WILLIE NELSON -- Greatest Hits (And Some That Will Be)
NEVILLE BROTHERS -- Fiyou On The Bayou
TODD RUNDGREN -- Healing
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- French Record
DAVID BOWIE -- Changestwobowie
KATE BUSH -- The Dreaming
VANGELIS -- Chariots Of Fire
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- French Record
DAVID BOWIE -- Changestwobowie
KATE BUSH -- The Dreaming
VANGELIS -- Chariots Of Fire
JOE JACKSON -- Jumpin' Jive
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1980
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- I Just Can't Stop It
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Roses In The Snow
TALKING HEADS -- Remain In Light
U2 -- Boy
AC/DC -- Back In Black
THE PRETENDERS -- The Pretenders
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Get Happy!
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The River
THE DOORS -- Greatest Hits
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Uprising
DAVID BOWIE -- Scary Monsters
JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO -- Double Fantasy
THE ENGLISH BEAT -- I Just Can't Stop It
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Roses In The Snow
TALKING HEADS -- Remain In Light
U2 -- Boy
AC/DC -- Back In Black
THE PRETENDERS -- The Pretenders
ELVIS COSTELLO -- Get Happy!
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The River
THE DOORS -- Greatest Hits
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Uprising
DAVID BOWIE -- Scary Monsters
DARYL HALL -- Sacred Songs
MADNESS -- Absolutely
STEVE WINWOOD -- Arc Of A Diver
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (3)
STEVIE WONDER -- Hotter Than July
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Doc At The Radar Station
THE CLASH -- Sandinista!
STEVE WINWOOD -- Arc Of A Diver
PETER GABRIEL -- Peter Gabriel (3)
STEVIE WONDER -- Hotter Than July
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Doc At The Radar Station
THE CLASH -- Sandinista!
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR -- Crawfish Fiesta
BARBRA STREISAND -- Guilty
PRINCE -- Dirty Mind
KENNY ROGERS -- Greatest Hits
KATE BUSH -- Never For Ever
BARBRA STREISAND -- Guilty
PRINCE -- Dirty Mind
KENNY ROGERS -- Greatest Hits
KATE BUSH -- Never For Ever
GEORGE JONES -- I Am What I Am
FRANK SINATRA -- Trilogy: Past Present Future
THE SELECTER -- Too Much Pressure
PETE TOWNSEND -- Empty Glass
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1979
THE CLASH -- London Calling
TALKING HEADS -- Fear of Music
VAN MORRISON -- Into The Music
MICHAEL JACKSON -- Off The Wall
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Blue Kentucky Girl/Light Of The Stable
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Tusk
DAVID BOWIE -- Lodger
PHILIP GLASS -- Satyagraha
AC/DC -- Highway To Hell
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Tusk
DAVID BOWIE -- Lodger
PHILIP GLASS -- Satyagraha
AC/DC -- Highway To Hell
PEGGY LEE -- Close Enough For Love
JOE JACKSON -- Look Sharp!
NEIL YOUNG -- Rust Never Sleeps
WILLIE NELSON -- Pretty Paper
DONNA SUMMER -- On The Radio (Greatest Hits)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd (Original Cast Recording)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Rickie Lee Jones
LEONARD COHEN -- Recent Songs
TOM PETTY -- Damn The Torpedoes!
BUZZCOCKS -- Singles Going Steady
PINK FLOYD -- The Wall
MADNESS -- One Step Beyond...
GRAHAM PARKER -- Squeezing Out Sparks
PETER GREEN -- In The Skies
JOE JACKSON -- Look Sharp!
NEIL YOUNG -- Rust Never Sleeps
WILLIE NELSON -- Pretty Paper
DONNA SUMMER -- On The Radio (Greatest Hits)
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Sweeney Todd (Original Cast Recording)
RICKIE LEE JONES -- Rickie Lee Jones
LEONARD COHEN -- Recent Songs
TOM PETTY -- Damn The Torpedoes!
BUZZCOCKS -- Singles Going Steady
PINK FLOYD -- The Wall
MADNESS -- One Step Beyond...
GRAHAM PARKER -- Squeezing Out Sparks
PETER GREEN -- In The Skies
KEN NORDINE -- Stare With Your Ears
THE ROCHES -- The Roches
MERLE HAGGARD -- Serving 190 Proof (1979)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1978
WILLIE NELSON -- Stardust
FUNKADELIC -- One Nation Under A Groove
KATE BUSH -- The Kick Inside
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Some Girls
TALKING HEADS -- More Songs About Buildings and Food
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ain't Misbehavin' (Original Cast Recording)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- This Year's Model
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Darkness On The Edge Of Town
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
NEIL YOUNG -- Comes A Time
BLONDIE -- Parallel Lines
THE CLASH -- Give 'em Enough Rope
BRIAN ENO -- Ambient 1: Music For Airports
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1978
WILLIE NELSON -- Stardust
FUNKADELIC -- One Nation Under A Groove
KATE BUSH -- The Kick Inside
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Some Girls
TALKING HEADS -- More Songs About Buildings and Food
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Ain't Misbehavin' (Original Cast Recording)
ELVIS COSTELLO -- This Year's Model
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Darkness On The Edge Of Town
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
NEIL YOUNG -- Comes A Time
BLONDIE -- Parallel Lines
THE CLASH -- Give 'em Enough Rope
BRIAN ENO -- Ambient 1: Music For Airports
ISMAEL RIVERA -- Esto Si Es Lo Mio
THE BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Last Waltz
BIG STAR -- Third/Sister Lovers
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town
EARTH WIND AND FIRE -- The Best of Earth Wind And Fire
WARREN ZEVON -- Excitable Boy
THE CARS -- The Cars
THE BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Last Waltz
BIG STAR -- Third/Sister Lovers
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Quarter Moon In A Ten Cent Town
EARTH WIND AND FIRE -- The Best of Earth Wind And Fire
WARREN ZEVON -- Excitable Boy
THE CARS -- The Cars
WILLIE COLON AND RUBEN BLADÉS -- Siembra
BUDDY HOLLY -- 20 Golden Greats
DIRE STRAITS -- Dire Straits
GERRY RAFFERTY -- City To City
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1977
STEELY DAN -- Aja
DAVID BOWIE -- Low/Heroes
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Rumours
MEAT LOAF -- Bat Out Of Hell
ELVIS COSTELLO -- My Aim Is True
MUDDY WATERS -- Hard Again
SEX PISTOLS -- Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
BUDDY HOLLY -- 20 Golden Greats
DIRE STRAITS -- Dire Straits
GERRY RAFFERTY -- City To City
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1977
STEELY DAN -- Aja
DAVID BOWIE -- Low/Heroes
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Rumours
MEAT LOAF -- Bat Out Of Hell
ELVIS COSTELLO -- My Aim Is True
MUDDY WATERS -- Hard Again
SEX PISTOLS -- Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols
THE SAINTS -- (I'm) Stranded
JOHN WILLIAMS -- Star Wars Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits Volume 2
JOHN WILLIAMS -- Star Wars Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits Volume 2
KRAFTWERK -- Trans Europe Express
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
RAMONES -- Leave Home/Rocket To Russia
AL GREEN -- The Belle Album/Greatest Hits Vol. 2
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
RAMONES -- Leave Home/Rocket To Russia
AL GREEN -- The Belle Album/Greatest Hits Vol. 2
UTOPIA/TODD RUNDGREN -- Oops! Wrong Planet
ROLLING STONES -- Live At The El Mocambo
WILLIE NELSON -- To Lefty From Willie
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Exodus
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Dancer With Bruised Knee
MERLE HAGGARD -- A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
PETER TOSH -- Equal Rights
PAUL SIMON -- Greatest Hits, Etc.
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- Together Again
THE CLASH -- The Clash
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Saturday Night Fever
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Luxury Liner
JACKSON BROWNE -- Runnin' On Empty
GLENN GOULD -- The Quiet In The Land (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1976
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life
JAMES TAYLOR -- Greatest Hits
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Chronicle Vol. 1 (20 Greatest Hits)
WILLIE NELSON -- To Lefty From Willie
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Exodus
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Dancer With Bruised Knee
MERLE HAGGARD -- A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
PETER TOSH -- Equal Rights
PAUL SIMON -- Greatest Hits, Etc.
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- Together Again
THE CLASH -- The Clash
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Saturday Night Fever
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Luxury Liner
JACKSON BROWNE -- Runnin' On Empty
GLENN GOULD -- The Quiet In The Land (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1976
STEVIE WONDER -- Songs In The Key Of Life
JAMES TAYLOR -- Greatest Hits
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Chronicle Vol. 1 (20 Greatest Hits)
BUNNY WAILER -- Blackheart Man
BILLY JOEL -- Turnstiles
THE EAGLES -- Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
PHILIP GLASS -- Einstein On The Beach
BOZ SCAGGS -- Silk Degrees
DAVID BOWIE -- Station To Station/Changesonebowie
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Rastaman Vibration
LINDA RONSTADT -- Greatest Hits
RAMONES -- Ramones
PETER TOSH -- Legalize It
THE EAGLES -- Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
PHILIP GLASS -- Einstein On The Beach
BOZ SCAGGS -- Silk Degrees
DAVID BOWIE -- Station To Station/Changesonebowie
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Rastaman Vibration
LINDA RONSTADT -- Greatest Hits
RAMONES -- Ramones
PETER TOSH -- Legalize It
RICHARD PRYOR -- Bicentennial N----r
WILLIE NELSON -- Red Headed Stranger
WARREN ZEVON -- Warren Zevon
RUSH -- 2112
AUGUSTUS PABLO -- King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
BLONDIE -- Blondie
WARREN ZEVON -- Warren Zevon
RUSH -- 2112
AUGUSTUS PABLO -- King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
BLONDIE -- Blondie
CARTOLA -- Cartola II
THE ABYSSINIANS -- Satta Massagana
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1975
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes
KEITH JARRETT -- The Köln Concert
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born To Run
PARLIAMENT -- Mothership Connection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1975
BOB DYLAN -- Blood On The Tracks/The Basement Tapes
KEITH JARRETT -- The Köln Concert
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- Born To Run
PARLIAMENT -- Mothership Connection
FLEETWOOD MAC -- Fleetwood Mac
NEIL YOUNG -- Tonight's The Night/ Zuma/ Homegrown
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Kate And Anna McGarrigle
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Pour Down Like Silver
KATE AND ANNA MCGARRIGLE -- Kate And Anna McGarrigle
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Pour Down Like Silver
RICHARD PRYOR -- ...Is It Something I Said?
JONI MITCHELL -- The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Natty Dread/Live!
PAUL SIMON -- Still Crazy After All These Years
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
DOLLY PARTON -- The Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 2
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
THE FOUR SEASONS -- The Four Seasons Story
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Chorus Line (Original Cast Recording)
AL GREEN -- Greatest Hits Vol. 1
BRIAN ENO -- Another Green World
PINK FLOYD -- Wish You Were Here
HECTOR LAVOE -- La Voz
WAYLON JENNINGS -- Dreaming My Dreams
TONY BENNETT AND BILL EVANS -- The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album
DOLLY PARTON -- The Best Of Dolly Parton Vol. 2
LEON REDBONE -- On The Track
THE FOUR SEASONS -- The Four Seasons Story
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Chorus Line (Original Cast Recording)
AL GREEN -- Greatest Hits Vol. 1
BRIAN ENO -- Another Green World
PINK FLOYD -- Wish You Were Here
HECTOR LAVOE -- La Voz
WAYLON JENNINGS -- Dreaming My Dreams
PEGGY LEE -- Mirrors
BURNING SPEAR -- Marcus Garvey
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Pieces of The Sky/Elite Hotel
BARRY WHITE -- Greatest Hits, Volume 1
LINDA LEWIS -- Fathoms Deep
PATTI SMITH -- Horses
BURNING SPEAR -- Marcus Garvey
EMMYLOU HARRIS -- Pieces of The Sky/Elite Hotel
BARRY WHITE -- Greatest Hits, Volume 1
LINDA LEWIS -- Fathoms Deep
PATTI SMITH -- Horses
JOE HIGGS -- Life Of Contradictions
ART GARFUNKEL -- Breakaway
HAROLD MELVIN AND BLUE NOTES FEATURING TEDDY PENDERGRASS -- To Be True
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1974
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
THE BEACH BOYS -- Endless Summer
JONI MITCHELL -- Court And Spark
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits
LINDA RONSTADT -- Heart Like A Wheel
GRAM PARSONS -- Grievous Angel
ART GARFUNKEL -- Breakaway
HAROLD MELVIN AND BLUE NOTES FEATURING TEDDY PENDERGRASS -- To Be True
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1974
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
THE BEACH BOYS -- Endless Summer
JONI MITCHELL -- Court And Spark
ELTON JOHN -- Greatest Hits
LINDA RONSTADT -- Heart Like A Wheel
GRAM PARSONS -- Grievous Angel
ELLIS REGINA AND ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM -- Ellis & Tom
STEVIE WONDER -- Fulfillingness' First Finale
PHILIP GLASS -- Music in Twelve Parts
BIG STAR -- Radio City
CELIA CRUZ AND JOHNNY PACHECO -- Celia And Johnny
NEIL YOUNG -- On The Beach
PHILIP GLASS -- Music in Twelve Parts
BIG STAR -- Radio City
CELIA CRUZ AND JOHNNY PACHECO -- Celia And Johnny
NEIL YOUNG -- On The Beach
RANDY NEWMAN -- Good Old Boys
VAN MORRISON -- Veedon Fleece
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits
BILL WITHERS -- +'Justments
BRIAN ENO -- Here Come The Warm Jets
VAN MORRISON -- Veedon Fleece
NEIL DIAMOND -- 12 Greatest Hits
BILL WITHERS -- +'Justments
BRIAN ENO -- Here Come The Warm Jets
RICHARD PRYOR -- That N----'s Crazy
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings
THE METERS -- Rejuvenation
ROBERT WYATT -- Rock Bottom
THE METERS -- Rejuvenation
ROBERT WYATT -- Rock Bottom
JORGE BEN JOR -- A Tabua de Esmeralda
RACHEL FARO -- Refugees
TOM WAITS -- The Heart Of Saturday Night
AL GREEN -- Explores Your Mind
SANDY DENNY -- Like An Old-Fashioned Waltz
SANTANA -- Santana's Greatest Hits
ROXY MUSIC -- Country Life
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
BLUE MAGIC -- Blue Magic
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Hokey Pokey
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- So Far
JACKSON BROWNE -- Late For The Sky
JIM CROCE -- Photographs And Memories: His Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1973
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin'
HARRY NILSSON -- A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night
PINK FLOYD -- The Dark Side Of The Moon
JOHN MARTYN -- Solid Air
THE CARPENTERS -- The Singles 1969-1973
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
STEVIE WONDER -- Innervisions
PAUL SIMON -- There Goes Rhymin' Simon
MARVIN GAYE -- Let's Get It On
DOLLY PARTON -- My Tennessee Mountain Home
TODD RUNDGREN -- A Wizard, A True Star
DAVID BOWIE -- Aladdin Sane
AL GREEN -- Explores Your Mind
SANDY DENNY -- Like An Old-Fashioned Waltz
SANTANA -- Santana's Greatest Hits
ROXY MUSIC -- Country Life
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits Vol. 2
BLUE MAGIC -- Blue Magic
RICHARD AND LINDA THOMPSON -- Hokey Pokey
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- So Far
JACKSON BROWNE -- Late For The Sky
JIM CROCE -- Photographs And Memories: His Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1973
BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS -- Catch A Fire/Burnin'
HARRY NILSSON -- A Little Touch Of Schmilsson In The Night
PINK FLOYD -- The Dark Side Of The Moon
JOHN MARTYN -- Solid Air
THE CARPENTERS -- The Singles 1969-1973
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN -- The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle
STEVIE WONDER -- Innervisions
PAUL SIMON -- There Goes Rhymin' Simon
MARVIN GAYE -- Let's Get It On
DOLLY PARTON -- My Tennessee Mountain Home
TODD RUNDGREN -- A Wizard, A True Star
DAVID BOWIE -- Aladdin Sane
HALL & OATES -- Abandoned Luncheonette
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings
GRAM PARSONS -- GP
BETTYE SWANN -- The Complete Atlantic Recordings
GRAM PARSONS -- GP
IRMA THOMAS -- In Between Tears
NEW YORK DOLLS -- New York Dolls
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Anthology
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Band On The Run
AL GREEN -- Call Me/Livin' For You
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Anthology
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short Is C-R-A-Z-Y For Gershwin
ELTON JOHN -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- Mott
BILLY JOEL -- Piano Man
THE SPINNERS -- The Spinners
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1972
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Exile On Main St.
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Amazing Grace
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Anthology
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Band On The Run
AL GREEN -- Call Me/Livin' For You
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Anthology
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short Is C-R-A-Z-Y For Gershwin
ELTON JOHN -- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- Mott
BILLY JOEL -- Piano Man
THE SPINNERS -- The Spinners
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1972
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Exile On Main St.
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Will The Circle Be Unbroken
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Amazing Grace
NOVOS BAIANOS -- Acabou Chorare
NICK DRAKE -- Pink Moon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Harder They Come
JONI MITCHELL -- For The Roses
STEVIE WONDER -- Music Of My Mind/Talking Book
DAVID BOWIE -- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Little Night Music (Original Cast Recording)/Follies (Original Cast Recording)
RANDY NEWMAN -- Sail Away
TODD RUNDGREN -- Something/Anything?
FANIA ALL-STARS -- Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1-3
PAUL SIMON -- Paul Simon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
AL GREEN -- Let's Stay Together/I'm Still In Love With You
BIG STAR -- #1 Record
SANDY DENNY -- Sandy
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Superfly
ROY ORBISON -- All-Time Greatest Hits
THE FLATLANDERS -- More A Legend Than A Band
NICK DRAKE -- Pink Moon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Harder They Come
JONI MITCHELL -- For The Roses
STEVIE WONDER -- Music Of My Mind/Talking Book
DAVID BOWIE -- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Little Night Music (Original Cast Recording)/Follies (Original Cast Recording)
RANDY NEWMAN -- Sail Away
TODD RUNDGREN -- Something/Anything?
FANIA ALL-STARS -- Live At The Cheetah Vol. 1-3
PAUL SIMON -- Paul Simon
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era 1965-1968
AL GREEN -- Let's Stay Together/I'm Still In Love With You
BIG STAR -- #1 Record
SANDY DENNY -- Sandy
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Superfly
ROY ORBISON -- All-Time Greatest Hits
THE FLATLANDERS -- More A Legend Than A Band
ALICE CLARK -- Alice Clark
ROXY MUSIC -- Roxy Music
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Last Sessions
BILL WITHERS -- Still Bill
ELVIS PRESLEY -- He Touched Me
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Last Sessions
BILL WITHERS -- Still Bill
ELVIS PRESLEY -- He Touched Me
MILTON NASCIMENTO & LO BORGES -- Clube de Esquina
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short Is Mad About Noel Coward
MICHAEL NESMITH -- And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'
MICHAEL NESMITH -- And The Hits Just Keep On Comin'
MOTT THE HOOPLE -- All The Young Dudes
WILLIS ALAN RAMSAY -- Willis Alan Ramsay
CYMANDE -- Cymande
JOHN PRINE -- Diamonds In The Rough
JOHN PRINE -- Diamonds In The Rough
NEIL YOUNG -- Harvest
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1971
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue
MARVIN GAYE -- What's Going On
CAROLE KING -- Tapestry
LED ZEPPELIN -- Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV)
BILL WITHERS -- Just As I Am
ROLLING STONES -- Sticky Fingers/Hot Rocks 1964-1971
ROD STEWART -- Every Picture Tells A Story
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Ram
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1971
JONI MITCHELL -- Blue
MARVIN GAYE -- What's Going On
CAROLE KING -- Tapestry
LED ZEPPELIN -- Untitled (Led Zeppelin IV)
BILL WITHERS -- Just As I Am
ROLLING STONES -- Sticky Fingers/Hot Rocks 1964-1971
ROD STEWART -- Every Picture Tells A Story
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- Ram
DAVID BOWIE -- Hunky Dory
ISAAC HAYES -- Black Moses
DOLLY PARTON -- Coat Of Many Colors
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND -- Live At Fillmore East
THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND -- Live At Fillmore East
GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Pieces Of A Man
LAURA NYRO -- Gonna Take A Miracle
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- There's A Riot Goin' On
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Patchwork
THE WHO -- Who's Next/Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay 2
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren
MILES DAVIS -- Jack Johnson
LAURA NYRO -- Gonna Take A Miracle
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- There's A Riot Goin' On
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Patchwork
THE WHO -- Who's Next/Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay 2
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren
MILES DAVIS -- Jack Johnson
MICKEY NEWBURY -- Frisco Mabel Joy
THE BAND -- Cahoots
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Roots
JACKSON 5 -- Greatest Hits
JANIS JOPLIN -- Pearl
JOHN LENNON -- Imagine
HOWLIN' WOLF -- The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
LORETTA LYNN -- Coal Miner's Daughter
THE BAND -- Cahoots
CURTIS MAYFIELD -- Roots
JACKSON 5 -- Greatest Hits
JANIS JOPLIN -- Pearl
JOHN LENNON -- Imagine
HOWLIN' WOLF -- The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions
LORETTA LYNN -- Coal Miner's Daughter
DON MCLEAN -- American Pie
VAN MORRISON -- Tupelo Honey
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Schmilsson
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Loves Cole Porter
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Sky's The Limit
VAN MORRISON -- Tupelo Honey
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Schmilsson
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Loves Cole Porter
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Sky's The Limit
TOM T. HALL -- In Search Of A Song
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1970
RANDY NEWMAN -- 12 Songs (tie)
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman (tie)
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1970
RANDY NEWMAN -- 12 Songs (tie)
HARRY NILSSON -- Nilsson Sings Newman (tie)
THE GRATEFUL DEAD -- Workingman's Dead/American Beauty
THE WHO -- Live At Leeds
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bridge Over Troubled Water
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bridge Over Troubled Water
JONI MITCHELL -- Ladies Of The Canyon
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra-Jobim
JOHN LENNON -- Plastic Ono Band
VAN MORRISON -- Moondance
CELIA CRUZ -- Etc. Etc. Etc.
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra-Jobim
JOHN LENNON -- Plastic Ono Band
VAN MORRISON -- Moondance
CELIA CRUZ -- Etc. Etc. Etc.
NEIL YOUNG -- After The Gold Rush
BARBRA STREISAND -- Greatest Hits
MILES DAVIS -- Bitches Brew
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay
MILES DAVIS -- Bitches Brew
FOTHERINGAY -- Fotheringay
EMITT RHODES -- Emitt Rhodes
SAMMI SMITH -- He's Everywhere aka Help Me Make It Through The Night
GEORGE HARRISON -- All Things Must Pass
THE BEATLES -- Let It Be
NICK DRAKE -- Bryter Layter
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Cosmo's Factory
JAMES TAYLOR -- Sweet Baby James
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company (Original Cast Recording)
GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Small Talk At 125th and Lenox
SANTANA -- Abraxas
DEREK AND THE DOMINOS -- Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt
JORGE BEN -- Forca Bruta
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Greatest Hits
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Psychedelic Shack
ROD STEWART -- Gasoline Alley
MARVIN GAYE -- That's The Way Love Is
GEORGE HARRISON -- All Things Must Pass
THE BEATLES -- Let It Be
NICK DRAKE -- Bryter Layter
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Cosmo's Factory
JAMES TAYLOR -- Sweet Baby James
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Company (Original Cast Recording)
GIL SCOTT-HERON -- Small Talk At 125th and Lenox
SANTANA -- Abraxas
DEREK AND THE DOMINOS -- Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs
TODD RUNDGREN -- Runt
JORGE BEN -- Forca Bruta
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Greatest Hits
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Psychedelic Shack
ROD STEWART -- Gasoline Alley
MARVIN GAYE -- That's The Way Love Is
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- Loaded
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
EVIE SANDS -- Any Way That You Want Me
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin III
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
EVIE SANDS -- Any Way That You Want Me
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin III
THE MOVERS The Movers
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- McCartney
LEON RUSSELL -- Leon Russell
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1969
PAUL MCCARTNEY -- McCartney
LEON RUSSELL -- Leon Russell
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1969
THE BEATLES -- Abbey Road
THE BAND -- The Band
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Green River/Willie and the Poor Boys/Bayou Country
NINA SIMONE -- Nina Simone and Piano
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- What We Did On Our Holidays/Unhalfbricking/Liege And Leaf
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin II
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD -- Dusty In Memphis
NICK DRAKE -- Five Leaves Left
ROLLING STONES -- Let It Bleed
JONI MITCHELL -- Clouds
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL -- Green River/Willie and the Poor Boys/Bayou Country
NINA SIMONE -- Nina Simone and Piano
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- What We Did On Our Holidays/Unhalfbricking/Liege And Leaf
LED ZEPPELIN -- Led Zeppelin II
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD -- Dusty In Memphis
NICK DRAKE -- Five Leaves Left
ROLLING STONES -- Let It Bleed
JONI MITCHELL -- Clouds
MILES DAVIS -- In A Silent Way
MICKEY NEWBURY -- Looks Like Rain
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Stand!
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE -- Stand!
NEIL YOUNG -- Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
ISAAC HAYES -- Hot Buttered Soul
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground
SHIRLEY AND DOLLY COLLINS -- Anthems In Eden
KAREN DALTON -- It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You The Best
HARRY NILSSON -- Harry
JORGE BEN -- Jorge Ben
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Trout Mask Replica
HARRY NILSSON -- Harry
JORGE BEN -- Jorge Ben
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART -- Trout Mask Replica
THE ISLEY BROTHERS -- It's Our Thing
THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS -- The Gilded Palace Of Sin
JIMMY SCOTT -- The Source
SANTANA -- Santana
PENTANGLE -- Basket Of Light
JIMMY SCOTT -- The Source
SANTANA -- Santana
PENTANGLE -- Basket Of Light
TOWNES VAN ZANDT -- Townes Van Zandt
GLENN GOULD -- The Latecomers (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- Crosby, Stills and Nash
ELVIS PRESLEY -- From Elvis In Memphis
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live 1969 (released 2008)
CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH -- Crosby, Stills and Nash
ELVIS PRESLEY -- From Elvis In Memphis
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live 1969 (released 2008)
JOHNNY CASH -- At San Quentin
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1968
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks
THE BEATLES -- The Beatles (The White Album)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Electric Ladyland
THE BAND -- Music From Big Pink
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Lady Soul
VAN MORRISON -- Astral Weeks
THE BEATLES -- The Beatles (The White Album)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Electric Ladyland
THE BAND -- Music From Big Pink
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- Lady Soul
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Tropicalia Ou Panis Et Circensis
THE BYRDS -- Sweethearts of the Rodeo/The Notorious Byrd Brothers/Greatest Hits
THE BYRDS -- Sweethearts of the Rodeo/The Notorious Byrd Brothers/Greatest Hits
ROLLING STONES -- Beggars Banquet
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Christmas Album
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Delta Sweete
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Christmas Album
BOBBIE GENTRY -- The Delta Sweete
TERRY RILEY -- In "C"
THE DRIFTERS -- The Drifters' Golden Hits
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Fairport Convention
JOHNNY CASH -- At Folsom Prison
THE DRIFTERS -- The Drifters' Golden Hits
FAIRPORT CONVENTION -- Fairport Convention
JOHNNY CASH -- At Folsom Prison
THE RASCALS -- Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bookends
THE ZOMBIES -- Odessey and Oracle
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Bookends
THE ZOMBIES -- Odessey and Oracle
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Roots
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- White Light/White Heat
JERRY LEE LEWIS -- Another Time, Another Place
JONI MITCHELL -- Song To A Seagull
JONI MITCHELL -- Song To A Seagull
CAETANO VELOSO -- Caetano Veloso aka Tropicalia
THE KINKS -- The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society
GILBERTO GIL -- Gilberto Gil
DAVID AXELROD -- Song Of Innocence
DAVID AXELROD -- Song Of Innocence
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY -- Cheap Thrills
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis (TV Special)
RANDY NEWMAN -- Randy Newman
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD -- Last Time Around
TINY TIM -- God Bless Tiny Tim
BEACH BOYS -- Friends
THE BEAU BRUMMELS -- Bradley's Barn
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis (TV Special)
RANDY NEWMAN -- Randy Newman
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD -- Last Time Around
TINY TIM -- God Bless Tiny Tim
BEACH BOYS -- Friends
THE BEAU BRUMMELS -- Bradley's Barn
OS MUTANTES -- Os Mutantes
THE SMALL FACES -- Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits
HARRY NILSSON -- Aerial Ballet
MARGO GURYAN -- Take A Picture/27 Demos
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1967
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Are You Experienced/Axis: Bold As Love
THE BEATLES -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/Magical Mystery Tour
FRANK SINATRA -- Frances Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Ode To Billie Joe
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground And Nico
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Greatest Hits
THE SMALL FACES -- Ogden's Nut Gone Flake
LORETTA LYNN -- Loretta Lynn's Greatest Hits
HARRY NILSSON -- Aerial Ballet
MARGO GURYAN -- Take A Picture/27 Demos
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1967
ARETHA FRANKLIN -- I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
JIMI HENDRIX -- Are You Experienced/Axis: Bold As Love
THE BEATLES -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/Magical Mystery Tour
FRANK SINATRA -- Frances Albert Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim
BOBBIE GENTRY -- Ode To Billie Joe
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND -- The Velvet Underground And Nico
DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES -- Greatest Hits
THE WHO -- The Who Sell Out
PATSY CLINE -- Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits
LEONARD COHEN -- Songs Of Leonard Cohen
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt
LOVE -- Forever Changes
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE -- Surrealistic Pillow
MILES DAVIS -- Miles Smiles
LEONARD COHEN -- Songs Of Leonard Cohen
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt
LOVE -- Forever Changes
JEFFERSON AIRPLANE -- Surrealistic Pillow
MILES DAVIS -- Miles Smiles
ELVIS PRESLEY -- How Great Thou Art
GLENN GOULD -- The Idea Of North (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
LOU RAWLS -- Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
BOB DYLAN -- John Wesley Harding
CARLOS PAREDES -- Guitarra Portuguesa
ROLLING STONES -- Between The Buttons
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- The Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
PINK FLOYD -- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Far East Suite
THE YOUNG RASCALS aka THE RASCALS -- Groovin'
GLENN GOULD -- The Idea Of North (available on The Solitude Trilogy)
LOU RAWLS -- Merry Christmas Ho! Ho! Ho!
BOB DYLAN -- John Wesley Harding
CARLOS PAREDES -- Guitarra Portuguesa
ROLLING STONES -- Between The Buttons
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- The Best Of The Lovin' Spoonful
PINK FLOYD -- The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Far East Suite
THE YOUNG RASCALS aka THE RASCALS -- Groovin'
MERLE HAGGARD -- I'm A Lonesome Fugitive/Branded Man
THE TEMPTATIONS -- With A Lot O' Soul
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Gentle On My Mind/By The Time I Get To Phoenix
THE FOUR TOPS -- Greatest Hits
THE TEMPTATIONS -- With A Lot O' Soul
GLEN CAMPBELL -- Gentle On My Mind/By The Time I Get To Phoenix
THE FOUR TOPS -- Greatest Hits
THE DOORS -- The Doors/Strange Days
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live From New York City, 1967 (released 2002)
SCOTT WALKER -- Scott
DORIS DAY -- The Love Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1966
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Blonde on Blonde
IRMA THOMAS -- Take A Look
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Live From New York City, 1967 (released 2002)
SCOTT WALKER -- Scott
DORIS DAY -- The Love Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1966
THE BEACH BOYS -- Pet Sounds (tie)
THE BEATLES -- Revolver (tie)
BOB DYLAN -- Blonde on Blonde
IRMA THOMAS -- Take A Look
ROLLING STONES -- Aftermath
HERBIE HANCOCK -- Blow-Up Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
HERBIE HANCOCK -- Blow-Up Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
WILSON PICKETT -- The Exciting Wilson Pickett
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra At The Sands
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Today!
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits
THE FOUR SEASONS -- 2nd Vault Of Golden Hits
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Shake Sugaree
THE RASCALS aka THE YOUNG RASCALS -- The Young Rascals
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra At The Sands
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Today!
THE TEMPTATIONS -- Greatest Hits
THE FOUR SEASONS -- 2nd Vault Of Golden Hits
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Shake Sugaree
THE RASCALS aka THE YOUNG RASCALS -- The Young Rascals
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
KANDER AND EBB -- Cabaret Original Broadway Cast Recording
WILLIE BOBO -- Uno Dos Tres 1 2 3
KANDER AND EBB -- Cabaret Original Broadway Cast Recording
WILLIE BOBO -- Uno Dos Tres 1 2 3
SIMON AND GARFUNKEL -- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme
MARTY ROBBINS -- The Drifter
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1965
BOB DYLAN -- Highway 61 Revisited /Bringing It All Back Home
THE BEATLES -- Rubber Soul/Help!
JOHN COLTRANE -- A Love Supreme
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound Of Music Original Soundtrack
B.B. KING -- Live At The Regal
OTIS REDDING -- Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
FRANK SINATRA -- September Of My Years
MILES DAVIS -- The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel/E.S.P.
THE BYRDS -- Mr. Tambourine Man/Turn! Turn! Turn!
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1965
BOB DYLAN -- Highway 61 Revisited /Bringing It All Back Home
THE BEATLES -- Rubber Soul/Help!
JOHN COLTRANE -- A Love Supreme
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- The Sound Of Music Original Soundtrack
B.B. KING -- Live At The Regal
OTIS REDDING -- Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
FRANK SINATRA -- September Of My Years
MILES DAVIS -- The Complete Live At The Plugged Nickel/E.S.P.
THE BYRDS -- Mr. Tambourine Man/Turn! Turn! Turn!
NINA SIMONE -- Pastel Blues
GRANT GREEN -- Idle Moments
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto #2
THE BEACH BOYS -- The Beach Boys Today!
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
CONNIE SMITH -- Connie Smith
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto #2
THE BEACH BOYS -- The Beach Boys Today!
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
CONNIE SMITH -- Connie Smith
DION -- Kickin Child: The Lost 1965 Album
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
FRED NEIL -- Bleecker and MacDougall
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Whipped Cream and Other Delights
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- Do You Believe In Magic
WILLIE BOBO -- Spanish Grease
THE FOUR TOPS -- 19 Greatest Hits
FRED NEIL -- Bleecker and MacDougall
HERB ALPERT AND THE TIJUANA BRASS -- Whipped Cream and Other Delights
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL -- Do You Believe In Magic
WILLIE BOBO -- Spanish Grease
THE SHANGRI-LAS -- Leader Of The Pack
EDDIE HARRIS -- The In Sound
TONY BENNETT -- If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set
TONY BENNETT -- If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set
JUDY RODERICK -- Woman Blue
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1964
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto
BOB DYLAN -- Another Side Of Bob Dylan
THE BEATLES -- Beatles For Sale/A Hard Day's Night
NINA SIMONE -- In Concert
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1964
STAN GETZ AND JOAO GILBERTO -- Getz/Gilberto
BOB DYLAN -- Another Side Of Bob Dylan
THE BEATLES -- Beatles For Sale/A Hard Day's Night
NINA SIMONE -- In Concert
TONY BENNETT -- When Lights Are Low
THE RONETTES -- Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica
MUDDY WATERS -- Folk Singer
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 5
THELONIOUS MONK -- Solo Monk
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook/Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Third Album
THE RONETTES -- Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes, Featuring Veronica
MUDDY WATERS -- Folk Singer
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 5
THELONIOUS MONK -- Solo Monk
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook/Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Third Album
THE IMPRESSIONS -- Keep On Pushing
IRMA THOMAS -- Wish Someone Would Care
HORACE SILVER -- Song For My Father
CHUCK BERRY -- St. Louis To Liverpool
ERIC DOLPHY -- Out To Lunch
BOB DYLAN -- The Times They Are A-Changin'
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Fiddler On The Roof Original Broadway Cast
HORACE SILVER -- Song For My Father
CHUCK BERRY -- St. Louis To Liverpool
ERIC DOLPHY -- Out To Lunch
BOB DYLAN -- The Times They Are A-Changin'
VARIOUS ARTISTS -- Fiddler On The Roof Original Broadway Cast
THE SUPREMES -- Where Did Our Love Go
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
LESLEY GORE -- Girl Talk
JIMMY SMITH -- Christmas '64 aka Christmas Cookin'
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1963
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story
JOHN COLTRANE -- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman/Both Directions At Once
JAMES BROWN -- Live At The Apollo
DORIS DAY AND ROBERT GOULET -- Annie Get Your Gun
PHIL SPECTOR/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records
LESLEY GORE -- Girl Talk
JIMMY SMITH -- Christmas '64 aka Christmas Cookin'
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1963
PATSY CLINE -- The Patsy Cline Story
JOHN COLTRANE -- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman/Both Directions At Once
JAMES BROWN -- Live At The Apollo
DORIS DAY AND ROBERT GOULET -- Annie Get Your Gun
PHIL SPECTOR/VARIOUS ARTISTS -- A Christmas Gift For You From Philles Records
SAM COOKE -- Night Beat/Live at The Harlem Club, 1963
BOB DYLAN -- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
DEXTER GORDON -- Our Man In Paris
MILES DAVIS -- Quiet Nights
THE BEATLES -- Please Please Me/With The Beatles
BARBRA STREISAND -- The Barbra Streisand Album/The Second Barbra Streisand AlbumBOB DYLAN -- The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
ROY ORBISON -- In Dreams
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
DEXTER GORDON -- Our Man In Paris
MILES DAVIS -- Quiet Nights
JORGE BEN -- Samba Esquerra Novo
THELONIOUS MONK -- Monk's Dream
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella and Basie!
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella and Basie!
EMAHOY TSEGU-MARYAM GUBROU -- Ethiopiques Vol. 21: Ethiopia Song Piano Solo
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Blessed Assurance
JOE HENDERSON -- Page One
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Blessed Assurance
JOE HENDERSON -- Page One
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Love
DEAN MARTIN -- Country Style/Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1962
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins/Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
DEAN MARTIN -- Country Style/Dean "Tex" Martin Rides Again
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1962
RAY CHARLES -- Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music Vol 1 and 2
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins/Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
BARBRA STREISAND -- Live At The Bon Soir
ROY ORBISON -- Crying
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
NANCY WILSON -- Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley and Something Wonderful
PHIL SPECTOR -- Back To Mono 1958-1969 (boxed set)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Howlin' Wolf (Rocking Chair Album)
TONY BENNETT -- Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall/I Left My Heart In San Francisco
SAM COOKE -- The Best Of Sam Cooke
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Howlin' Wolf (Rocking Chair Album)
TONY BENNETT -- Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall/I Left My Heart In San Francisco
SAM COOKE -- The Best Of Sam Cooke
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live)
CHARLES MINGUS -- New Tijuana Moods
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Drinking Again
CHARLES MINGUS -- New Tijuana Moods
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Drinking Again
JACKIE MCLEAN -- Bluesnik
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Savior Pass Me Not
DORIS DAY -- Duet (w Andre Previn Trio)
BEN WEBSTER -- Ben and "Sweets" (w Harry "Sweets" Edison)
KAY STARR -- I Cry By Night
DEXTER GORDON -- Go!
ERNESTINE ANDERSON -- Swings The Penthouse
ALBERT KING -- The Big Blues
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Think Well Of Me
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1961
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy At Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- My Favorite Things/Coltrane Jazz
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood/ Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Harold Arlen Songbook/ Clap Your Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours/Ray Charles and Betty Carter/Genius + Soul = Jazz
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- Savior Pass Me Not
DORIS DAY -- Duet (w Andre Previn Trio)
BEN WEBSTER -- Ben and "Sweets" (w Harry "Sweets" Edison)
KAY STARR -- I Cry By Night
DEXTER GORDON -- Go!
ERNESTINE ANDERSON -- Swings The Penthouse
ALBERT KING -- The Big Blues
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Think Well Of Me
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1961
BILL EVANS -- Sunday At The Village Vanguard/Waltz For Debby
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy At Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- My Favorite Things/Coltrane Jazz
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Twelve Nights In Hollywood/ Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Harold Arlen Songbook/ Clap Your Hands, Here Comes Charlie!
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius Sings The Blues/The Genius After Hours/Ray Charles and Betty Carter/Genius + Soul = Jazz
PATSY CLINE -- Showcase
MILES DAVIS -- Steamin'
PEE WEE RUSSELL AND COLEMAN HAWKINS -- Jazz Reunion
MILES DAVIS -- Steamin'
PEE WEE RUSSELL AND COLEMAN HAWKINS -- Jazz Reunion
DEXTER GORDON -- Dexter Calling
JAMES BROWN -- James Brown Presents His Band
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Mis'ry and the Blues
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 2
THELONIOUS MONK -- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane
BLOSSOM DEARIE -- My Gentleman Friend
JAMES BROWN -- James Brown Presents His Band
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
JACK TEAGARDEN -- Mis'ry and the Blues
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez 2
THELONIOUS MONK -- Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane
BLOSSOM DEARIE -- My Gentleman Friend
FREDDIE HUBBARD -- Ready For Freddie
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 7 (1961)
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- This Is Our Music/Free Jazz
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Straight Ahead
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 7 (1961)
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- This Is Our Music/Free Jazz
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Straight Ahead
BOOKER ERVIN -- That's It!
FRANK SINATRA -- Ring-a-Ding-Ding!
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey and the Jazz Passengers
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Rosie Solves The Swingin' Riddle!
DONALD BYRD -- Chant
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1960
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (released in 1990)
JOHN COLTRANE -- Giant Steps
MUDDY WATERS -- Muddy Waters At Newport 1960
DAVE BRUBECK -- Time Out
ETTA JAMES -- At Last!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- His Hand In Mine/50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Golden Records Vol 2
JAMES BROWN -- Think
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
FRANK SINATRA -- Ring-a-Ding-Ding!
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey and the Jazz Passengers
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Rosie Solves The Swingin' Riddle!
DONALD BYRD -- Chant
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1960
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Intimate Ella (released in 1990)
JOHN COLTRANE -- Giant Steps
MUDDY WATERS -- Muddy Waters At Newport 1960
DAVE BRUBECK -- Time Out
ETTA JAMES -- At Last!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- His Hand In Mine/50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong Golden Records Vol 2
JAMES BROWN -- Think
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
BURL IVES -- Return Of The Wayfaring Stranger
MEL TORME -- Swings Schubert Alley/Back In Town
THE ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSOR ALEX BRADFORD -- Shakin' The Rafters
ART BLAKEY -- A Night In Tunisia
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez
MEL TORME -- Swings Schubert Alley/Back In Town
THE ABYSSINIAN BAPTIST CHOIR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF PROFESSOR ALEX BRADFORD -- Shakin' The Rafters
ART BLAKEY -- A Night In Tunisia
JOAN BAEZ -- Joan Baez
SOLOMON BURKE -- Rock 'N Soul
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- Camelot
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- Camelot
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- It's Everly Time
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 6 (1958-1960)
MILES DAVIS -- Sketches Of Spain
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita O'Day And Billy May Swing Rodgers And Hart
ERIC DOLPHY -- Outward Bound/Out There
MILES DAVIS -- Sketches Of Spain
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita O'Day And Billy May Swing Rodgers And Hart
ERIC DOLPHY -- Outward Bound/Out There
ART FARMER & BENNY GOLSON -- Meet The Jazztet
SONNY RED -- Out Of The Blue
MARGARET WHITING -- Sings The Jerome Kern Songbook
SONNY CLARK -- The Sonny Clark Trio
SONNY CLARK -- The Sonny Clark Trio
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1959
MILES DAVIS -- Kind Of Blue/Workin'/Porgy and Bess
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Ella Fitzgerald Sings The George and Ira Gershwin Songbook
BUDDY HOLLY -- The Buddy Holly Story
JOAO GILBERTO -- Chega de Saudade
HARRY BELAFONTE -- Belafonte at Carnegie Hall
CHUCK BERRY -- Chuck Berry Is On Top
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
CHUCK BERRY -- Chuck Berry Is On Top
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 (1991 boxed set)
ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
MARTY ROBBINS -- Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- The Shape Of Jazz To Come
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius of Ray Charles
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- The Swan Silvertones
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ORNETTE COLEMAN -- The Shape Of Jazz To Come
RAY CHARLES -- The Genius of Ray Charles
THE SWAN SILVERTONES -- The Swan Silvertones
CHARLES MINGUS -- Ah Um/Mingus Dynasty
DINAH WASHINGTON -- What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Moanin' In The Moonlight
DINAH WASHINGTON -- What A Diff'rence A Day Makes!
ART BLAKEY AND THE JAZZ MESSENGERS -- Moanin'
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Moanin' In The Moonlight
NINA SIMONE -- Little Girl Blue
BILL EVANS -- On Green Dolphin Street
LITTLE RICHARD -- His Greatest Hits
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK -- Black Orpheus
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Is Blue
BILL EVANS -- On Green Dolphin Street
LITTLE RICHARD -- His Greatest Hits
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK -- Black Orpheus
ABBEY LINCOLN -- Abbey Is Blue
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1964)
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- The Sound Of Music Original Broadway Cast
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Dance With Me!/Live In Australia with The Red Norvo Quintet
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Anatomy Of A Murder
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Swings Cole Porter With Billy May
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/JULE STYNE -- Gypsy Original Broadway Cast
PEGGY LEE -- Beauty and the Beat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1958
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Irving Berlin Songbook/Porgy and Bess/Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert
MILES DAVIS -- Relaxin'/Milestones
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Fly With Me/Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely
BILL EVANS -- Everybody Digs Bill Evans
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- The Sound Of Music Original Broadway Cast
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Dance With Me!/Live In Australia with The Red Norvo Quintet
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Anatomy Of A Murder
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Swings Cole Porter With Billy May
STEPHEN SONDHEIM/JULE STYNE -- Gypsy Original Broadway Cast
PEGGY LEE -- Beauty and the Beat
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1958
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Golden Records Vol. 1
ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Irving Berlin Songbook/Porgy and Bess/Ella in Rome: The Birthday Concert
MILES DAVIS -- Relaxin'/Milestones
FRANK SINATRA -- Come Fly With Me/Frank Sinatra Sings For Only The Lonely
BILL EVANS -- Everybody Digs Bill Evans
JOHNNY MATHIS -- Johnny's Greatest Hits
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
CARMEN MCRAE -- Book Of Ballads
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Songs Our Daddy Taught Us
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Black Brown And Beige
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
CARMEN MCRAE -- Book Of Ballads
THE EVERLY BROTHERS -- Songs Our Daddy Taught Us
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Black Brown And Beige
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy In Love
NAT KING COLE -- St. Louis Blues
NAT KING COLE -- St. Louis Blues
BUDDY HOLLY -- Buddy Holly
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady In Satin
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady In Satin
ART BLAKEY -- Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonius Monk *** 1/2
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
ANITA O'DAY -- Sings The Winners
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs And Tunes
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 5 (1956-1958)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Under The Stars
CHET BAKER -- (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY-- Somethin' Else
BILLY ECKSTINE -- Billy's Best
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1957
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
ANITA O'DAY -- Sings The Winners
ELIZABETH COTTEN -- Freight Train And Other North Carolina Folk Songs And Tunes
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 5 (1956-1958)
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Louis Under The Stars
CHET BAKER -- (Chet Baker Sings) It Could Happen To You
CANNONBALL ADDERLEY-- Somethin' Else
BILLY ECKSTINE -- Billy's Best
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1957
LERNER AND LOEWE -- My Fair Lady Original Broadway Cast
THELONIOUS MONK -- Brilliant Corners/Monk's Music/W John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall
JOHN COLTRANE -- Blue Train
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Rodgers And Hart Songbook/Daydream: The Duke Ellington Songbook/Ella and Louie Again
MILES DAVIS -- Cookin'/Miles Ahead
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
JOHN COLTRANE -- Blue Train
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Rodgers And Hart Songbook/Daydream: The Duke Ellington Songbook/Ella and Louie Again
MILES DAVIS -- Cookin'/Miles Ahead
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
DORIS DAY -- Day By Night
FLATT & SCRUGGS -- Foggy Mountain Jamboree
ART BLAKEY'S JAZZ MESSENGERS -- A Night in Tunisia
RAY CHARLES -- Ray Charles
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Meets Oscar Peterson
RAY CHARLES -- Ray Charles
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- Meets Oscar Peterson
PATSY CLINE -- Patsy Cline
ART PEPPER -- Meets The Rhythm Section
BUDDY HOLLY -- The "Chirping" Crickets
BING CROSBY -- Bing With A Beat
LAMBERT HENDRICKS AND ROSS -- Sing A Song Of Basie
LITTLE RICHARD -- Here's Little Richard
JUDY GARLAND -- Alone
BUDDY HOLLY -- The "Chirping" Crickets
BING CROSBY -- Bing With A Beat
LAMBERT HENDRICKS AND ROSS -- Sing A Song Of Basie
LITTLE RICHARD -- Here's Little Richard
JUDY GARLAND -- Alone
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST -- West Side Story
TONY BENNETT -- The Beat Of My Heart
TONY BENNETT -- The Beat Of My Heart
NAT KING COLE -- After Midnight
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song
DICK HAYMES -- Moondreams
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- I've Got The World On A String
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Sings The Most
DENNY MARTIN -- Exotica
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Fats Waller Songbook aka Sings Fats Waller
CHRIS CONNOR -- Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song
DICK HAYMES -- Moondreams
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- I've Got The World On A String
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita Sings The Most
DENNY MARTIN -- Exotica
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Fats Waller Songbook aka Sings Fats Waller
FRANK SINATRA -- Sinatra '57 In Concert/Close To You/Where Are You?/Christmas Dreaming
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Cinderella TV Soundtrack
COLEMAN HAWKINS -- The Hawk Flies High
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Cinderella TV Soundtrack
COLEMAN HAWKINS -- The Hawk Flies High
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis' Christmas Album
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1956
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook/Ella and Louis
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington At Newport
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
DORIS DAY -- Day By Day
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis Presley/Elvis
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (12 inch version)
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
JULIO GUTTIERREZ -- Cuban Jam Session Vol 1
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
BING CROSBY -- Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Blue Rose
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Sings The Blues
MEL TORME -- Sings Fred Astaire
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy
CHET BAKER -- Sings
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah!/In The Land Of Hi-Fi/The Swingin' Miss "D"
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita aka This Is Anita
VIC DAMONE -- That Towering Feeling
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1955
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
DICK HAYMES -- Rain Or Shine
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (LP version)
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
ERROLL GARNER -- Concert By The Sea *** 1/2
ELLA FITZGERALD -- Sings The Cole Porter Songbook/Ella and Louis
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington At Newport
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Swingin' Lovers!
DORIS DAY -- Day By Day
ELVIS PRESLEY -- Elvis Presley/Elvis
BOBBY SHORT -- Bobby Short
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (12 inch version)
CHUCK BERRY -- The Great 28
JULIO GUTTIERREZ -- Cuban Jam Session Vol 1
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
BING CROSBY -- Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings
FATS DOMINO -- They Call Me The Fat Man...Antoine "Fats" Domino -- The Legendary Imperial Recordings
ROSEMARY CLOONEY -- Blue Rose
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Sings The Blues
MEL TORME -- Sings Fred Astaire
JUDY GARLAND -- Judy
CHET BAKER -- Sings
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah!/In The Land Of Hi-Fi/The Swingin' Miss "D"
ANITA O'DAY -- Anita aka This Is Anita
VIC DAMONE -- That Towering Feeling
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1955
FRANK SINATRA -- In The Wee Small Hours
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
DICK HAYMES -- Rain Or Shine
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas (LP version)
GLENN GOULD -- A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 and 1981
CONNIE CONVERSE -- How Sad, How Lovely
ERROLL GARNER -- Concert By The Sea *** 1/2
BOBBY TROUP -- Sings Johnny Mercer
COUNT BASIE -- April In Paris
JOHNNY HARTMAN -- Songs From The Heart
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1954
HANK WILLIAMS -- Honky Tonkin'/I Saw The Light/Ramblin' Man
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams/After Hours With Miss "D"
JOHNNY HARTMAN -- Songs From The Heart
THE PLATTERS -- The Magic Touch: An Anthology
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1954
HANK WILLIAMS -- Honky Tonkin'/I Saw The Light/Ramblin' Man
DINAH WASHINGTON -- Dinah Jams/After Hours With Miss "D"
THELONIUS MONK -- Complete Prestige 10" LP Collection: "Trio," "Monk," "And Sony Rollins"/Piano Solo
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs For Young Lovers/Swing Easy!
ELVIS PRESLEY -- The Sun Sessions
SARAH VAUGHAN -- Sarah Vaughan aka Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown
MILES DAVIS -- Walkin'
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1953
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (10 inch version)
SARAH VAUGHAN -- Sarah Vaughan aka Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown
MILES DAVIS -- Walkin'
JUNE CHRISTY -- Something Cool
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1953
PEGGY LEE -- Black Coffee (10 inch version)
HANK WILLIAMS -- Memorial Album
DAVE BRUBECK -- Jazz At The College Of The Pacific
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1952
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music
HANK WILLIAMS -- Moanin' The Blues
FRED ASTAIRE -- The Astaire Story
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 2 (1950-1952)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington Uptown
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1951
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DAVE BRUBECK -- Jazz At The College Of The Pacific
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1952
VARIOUS ARTISTS/HARRY SMITH -- The Anthology Of American Folk Music
HANK WILLIAMS -- Moanin' The Blues
FRED ASTAIRE -- The Astaire Story
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 2 (1950-1952)
HOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
DUKE ELLINGTON -- Ellington Uptown
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1951
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
HANK WILLIAMS -- SingsHOWLIN' WOLF -- Smokestack Lightning: The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1950
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Complete Decca Recordings (1944-1950)
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
FRANK SINATRA -- Dedicated To You/Swing and Dance With Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1949
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949) FRANK SINATRA -- Frankly Sentimental
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- South Pacific
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1949
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Djangology 49
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949) FRANK SINATRA -- Frankly Sentimental
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- South Pacific
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1948
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1948
HANK WILLIAMS -- 40 Greatest Hits
DINAH WASHINGTON -- The Complete Dinah Washington On Mercury Vol. 1 (1946-1949)
ROY MILTON -- Roy Milton and His Solid Senders (1992 comp)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1947
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs By Sinatra
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1946
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
FRANK SINATRA -- The Voice of Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1945
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1947
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Songs To Grow On: Nursery Days
FRANK SINATRA -- Songs By Sinatra
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1946
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
LIGHTNIN' HOPKINS -- Thinkin' And Worryin': The Aladdin Singles 1946-1952
FRANK SINATRA -- The Voice of Frank Sinatra
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1945
BING CROSBY -- Merry Christmas
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 2
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Carousel Original Broadway Cast
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 2
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Carousel Original Broadway Cast
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1944
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma!
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944
RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN -- Oklahoma!
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia 1933-1944
BURL IVES -- The Wayfaring Stranger (various versions 1944, 1945, 1959, 1960, 1964)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 1
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1943
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1942
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 9 1940-1942 (get remastered boxed set)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1941
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Columbia River Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1940
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing In Paris (1936-1940)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 8 1939-1940 (get remastered boxed set)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Dust Bowl Ballads
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1939
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing 39: Jazz In Paris
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 7 1938-1939 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1938
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 5-6 1937-1938 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1937
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1936
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 2 1936 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1935
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954]
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 1 1933-1935 (get remastered boxed set)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1934
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1933
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
WOODY GUTHRIE -- The Asch Recordings Vol. 1
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1943
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943
BING CROSY AND THE ANDREWS SISTERS -- Their Complete Recordings Together (1939-1951)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Greatest Hits
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1942
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 9 1940-1942 (get remastered boxed set)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
HARRY JAMES -- The Essence Of Harry James
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1941
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Columbia River Collection
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1940
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The Blanton-Webster Band/1937-1940 on Classics Label
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing In Paris (1936-1940)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
FRANK SINATRA AND TOMMY DORSEY-- The Song Is You! 1940-1942 on RCA Victor
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 8 1939-1940 (get remastered boxed set)
WOODY GUTHRIE -- Dust Bowl Ballads
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1939
GLENN MILLER -- The Essential Glenn Miller
DJANGO REINHARDT -- Swing 39: Jazz In Paris
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 7 1938-1939 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
THE INK SPOTS -- The Ultimate Collection (1939-1951)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1938
BENNY GOODMAN -- Benny Goodman At Carnegie Hall
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 5-6 1937-1938 (get remastered boxed set)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1937
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 3-4 1936-1937 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1937-1940 on Classics Label
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 2
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
COUNT BASIE -- The Complete Decca Recordings 1937-1939
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1936
ROBERT JOHNSON -- King Of The Delta Blues Singers Vol. 1
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 2 1936 (get remastered boxed set)
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
EDITH PIAF -- Greatest Hits
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1935
CHICK WEBB AND ELLA FITZGERALD -- The Complete Chick Webb and Ella Fitzgerald (1934-1941)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Decca 1934-1954]
BILLIE HOLIDAY -- The Quintessential Billie Holiday Vol 1 1933-1935 (get remastered boxed set)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1934
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934; Decca 1934-1954]
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1933
BESSIE SMITH -- The Collection
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1932
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1931
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1929
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1928
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1927
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1926
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1925
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1924
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1931
BING CROSY -- Bing Crosby: His Legendary Years (1931-1957) [Brunswick 1931-1934]
THE MILLS BROTHERS -- Four Men and A Guitar (recordings from 1930s)
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1929
CHARLEY PATTON -- King Of The Delta Blues (1929-1934)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930/1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1928
MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT -- Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 Okeh Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1927
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
HENRY THOMAS -- Bull Doze Blues (1927-1929)
DUKE ELLINGTON -- The OKeh Ellington 1927-1930
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1926
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1925
LOUIS ARMSTRONG -- The Complete Hot Five And Seven Recordings
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
THE BEST ALBUMS OF 1924
DUKE ELLINGTON -- 1924-1930 on Classics Label
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